JP6520193B2 - Method and apparatus for sterilizing aseptic filling machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sterilizing aseptic filling machines.

  For example, an aseptic filling machine for producing a portion pack heats the sheet while transporting the packaging sheet in one direction in the aseptic chamber, and forms a large number of small cup-shaped recesses in the sheet, Milk is filled in each recess, and the lid sheet is placed on the sheet and heat sealed to seal the recess. Finally, a laminate of the container sheet and the lid sheet is punched out for each pack, and finally it is cup-shaped The package is to be obtained.

  In such an aseptic filling machine, it is necessary to convey the sheet in one direction from heating of the container sheet to heat sealing, but in recent years, an endless chain with a clip is used which conveys the sheet while sandwiching the sheet on both sides thereof. There is.

  The aseptic filling machine needs to sterilize each device in the aseptic chamber covering the aseptic filling machine at its start up. This sterilization heats the inside of the aseptic chamber to sterilize the whole inside of the aseptic chamber, sprays the sterilizing agent into the aseptic chamber, and then leaves the aseptic chamber for sterilization for a predetermined time, and finally the aseptic chamber It is carried out by blowing warm air into the inside to dry the germicide.

  Also, among the devices in the sterile chamber, in particular, the endless chain is composed of a combination of various plates, pins, rollers, bushes, clips, etc., and there are many fine and complicated gaps between parts. Are sterilized by a different sterilization method.

  The method of disinfecting the endless chain is most generally a method of immersing the endless chain in a disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide solution or hypochlorous acid solution. That is, while the endless chain is run in the sterile chamber during the sterilization process in the sterile chamber, the endless chain is immersed in the germicide stored in the immersion tank. Then, along with the blowing of the warm air into the aseptic chamber, the endless chain is left still for 30 minutes or more. This completes the sterilization of the endless chain as well as the sterilization in the sterile chamber is complete. Thereafter, after the hydrogen peroxide solution contained in the immersion tank is switched to the lubricant-containing sterile water, the aseptic filling machine is operated, and the production of the package which is a packed product is started.

JP 2002-68143 A JP, 2009-18850, A

  The conventional endless chain sterilization method is to make the adhesion time of the bactericide to the endless chain be long by circulating the endless chain at a low speed. That is, a large amount of germicide is attached to the endless chain, and sterilization is attempted at a low temperature around room temperature.

  However, since the endless chain has a structure in which many kinds of metal parts such as plates, pins, rollers, and clips are combined, many fine gaps are formed between the parts. Even if such an endless chain is immersed in a low-temperature sterilizing agent for a long time, the sterilizing agent may not permeate depending on the position and shape of the gap, and air bubbles may come out of the immersion tank with air bubbles remaining in the gap. The remaining air bubbles are not desirable because the areas where air bubbles remain and are not in contact with the bactericide will be poorly disinfected.

  Even if the sterilizing agent does not penetrate into the gap in the immersion tank sufficiently, it is conceivable that the bactericidal agent may get into the gap while circulating in the aseptic chamber after the endless chain comes out of the immersion tank. The amount of disinfectant necessary for sterilization does not always adhere to all the gaps. In addition, it is also conceivable to, for example, uniformly distribute hydrogen peroxide solution in all gaps by increasing the number of times of immersion, but in the case of immersing an endless chain in a sterilizing agent while supplying a container sheet as a packaging material Because the loss of packaging material increases, it is not an appropriate treatment.

  On the other hand, it is possible to improve the permeability of the bactericide to the gaps in the endless chain by heating the bactericide temperature to several tens of degrees C or more and shorten the bactericidal time, but Or it takes a long time to raise the temperature of the bactericide, which causes the productivity of the package to decrease.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

  The inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies to solve the above problems. When ultrasonic waves are applied to the endless chain in the immersion tank, the endless chain is used even if the sterilizing agent in the immersion tank is at low temperature or normal temperature. It has been found that the air bubbles generated in the gaps can be expelled and the bactericidal agent can be uniformly infiltrated in all the gaps.

  Also, ultrasonic waves are classified into three types, a low frequency of several tens kHz to 100 kHz, a medium frequency of 100 kHz to 200 kHz, and a high frequency of several hundred kHz to several MHz, and among these three types of ultrasonic waves In particular, it has been found that it is desirable to use low frequency ultrasonic waves to sterilize endless chains, in order to enhance the sterilizing effect. That is, in the endless chain, the gap considered to be most difficult to remove air bubbles is considered to be between the roller and the bush, and in order to efficiently remove or move the air bubbles from such a gap, it is necessary to vibrate. It is desirable to vibrate the roller or bushing during immersion using high intensity, low frequency ultrasound. It has also been found that among the low frequency ultrasound waves, a frequency between 20 kHz and 50 kHz is more desirable.

  The present invention has been made based on the above findings, and adopts the following configuration.

  Although reference symbols are attached in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aseptic filling machine for sterilizing an endless chain (9) for transporting a packaging material by immersing the endless chain (9) in a sterilizing agent (10) in an immersion tank (28). In the sterilization method of the present invention, an ultrasonic transducer (29) is placed in the immersion tank (28), and ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transducer (29) are introduced into the sterilizing agent (10) in the immersion tank (28). Irradiate the traveling endless chain (9) and remove air bubbles from the endless chain and adopt the sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine.

  As described in claim 2, in the sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine according to claim 1, it is also possible to set the frequency of ultrasonic waves to several tens of kHz to 100 kHz.

  As described in claim 3, in the sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine according to claim 1, it is also possible to set the frequency of ultrasonic waves to 20 kHz to 50 kHz.

  As described in claim 4, in the sterilizing method of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the temperature of the sterilizing agent (10) in the immersion tank (28) is 25 ° C to 50 ° C. It is also possible to use ° C.

  As described in claim 5, in the method of sterilizing a sterile filling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, sterilization by immersing an endless chain (9) in a sterilizing agent (10), Starting simultaneously with the start of the sterilization process in the aseptic chamber (6) of the aseptic filling machine, soaking the endless chain (9) in the sterilizing agent (10) of the sterilization chamber (6) until spraying is complete It is also possible to complete the sterilization of the endless chain (9) by the time the drying of the germicide in the aseptic chamber (6) is completed.

  As described in claim 6, in the method of sterilizing the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the inside of the immersion tank (28) is completed after the sterilization treatment of the endless chain (9) is completed. It is also possible to replace the bactericidal agent (10) with sterile, lubricated water.

In the invention according to claim 7, the sterilization of the aseptic filling machine is adapted to be sterilized by immersing the endless chain (9) for transporting the packaging material in the sterilization (10) agent in the immersion tank (28). In the apparatus, an ultrasonic transducer (29) is installed in the immersion tank (28), and ultrasonic waves travel from the ultrasonic transducer (29) through the sterilizing agent (10) in the sterilizing tank (28). A sterilizing apparatus of an aseptic filling machine is adopted, in which the ultrasonic transducer is installed in the immersion tank so as to be irradiated toward the chain (9) and to remove air bubbles from the endless chain .

  As described in claim 8, in the sterilizer of the aseptic filling machine according to claim 7, the ultrasonic transducer (29) transmits ultrasonic waves with a frequency of several tens of kHz to 100 kHz to the endless chain (9). It may be irradiated toward the head.

  As claimed in claim 9, in the sterilizer of the aseptic filling machine according to claim 7, the ultrasonic transducer (29) directs ultrasonic waves with a frequency of 20 kHz to 50 kHz towards the endless chain (9) It may be irradiated.

  As described in claim 10, in the sterilizing apparatus of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 7 to 9, the temperature of the sterilizing agent (10) in the immersion tank (28) is 25 ° C to 50. It may be set to ° C.

  As described in claim 11, in the sterilizing apparatus of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 7 to 10, the sterilization by immersing the endless chain (9) in a sterilizing agent (10) is Starting simultaneously with the start of the sterilization process in the aseptic chamber (6) of the aseptic filling machine, soaking the endless chain (9) in the sterilizing agent (10) until the spraying of the sterilizing agent in the aseptic chamber (6) is finished The sterilization of the endless chain (9) may also be completed by the time the drying of the germicide in the sterile chamber (6) is complete.

  As described in claim 12, in the sterilizing apparatus of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 7 to 11, after completing the sterilizing treatment of the endless chain (9), the inside of the immersion tank (28) The bactericidal agent (10) may be replaced with sterile lubricant-added water.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a method of sterilizing a sterile filling machine, wherein the endless chain (9) for transporting the packaging material is sterilized by immersing the endless chain (9) in the sterilizing agent (10) in the immersion tank (28). And an ultrasonic transducer (29) is placed in the immersion tank (28), and an ultrasonic wave travels from the ultrasonic transducer (29) through the bactericide (10) in the immersion tank (28). Since the sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine is irradiated toward (9), the endless chain (9) used as a transportation means of the packaging material in the aseptic filling machine can be efficiently sterilized. That is, by removing air bubbles from the fine gaps of the endless chain (9) by ultrasonic vibration, the bactericidal agent (10) such as hydrogen peroxide solution uniformly adheres to the entire endless chain (9). It is possible to enhance the bactericidal effect of the endless chain (9) and thus to further enhance the sterility of the package (1) such as a packed product.

It is a schematic front view of an aseptic filling machine. It is an II-II arrow directional cross-sectional view in FIG. FIG. 1 is a half sectional view of a package manufactured by an aseptic filling machine.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  First, the package manufactured by the aseptic filling machine will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the package 1 includes a container 2 and a lid 3 for closing the opening of the container 2. The container 2 is filled with the contents a.

  The container 2 is, for example, a small volume cup. The cup has a wide opening at the upper end of the body portion made of a tapered wall, has a flange 2a at the outer periphery of the opening, and is integrally molded of a synthetic resin as a whole.

  The lid 3 is made of, for example, a sheet in which a heat seal layer is laminated on metal foil. The sheet is placed on the opening of the container 2 after being filled with the contents a, and the container 2 is sealed by heat sealing the flange 2 a with the surface of the heat seal layer.

  The content a is a beverage such as milk. The beverage is sterilized in advance, and the sterilized product is filled in the container 2.

  Next, an aseptic filling apparatus for producing the package 1 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the aseptic filling apparatus comprises a conveying means for conveying the continuous container sheet 4 as a packaging material in one direction, and a heating means for heating the container sheet 4 to a shapeable temperature. A recess forming means for forming a large number of cup-shaped recesses in the heated container sheet 4, a filling means for filling the contents a in each recess, and a lid as a packaging material for the recess filled with the contents a A sealing means for sealing with the seat 5 and a punching means for punching out the sealed portion to take out the package 1 are provided.

  A sterile chamber 6 is provided along the passage of the container sheet 4. The sterile chamber 6 covers from the location of the heating means to the location of the sealing means.

  In the sterile chamber 6, although not shown, a sterilizing agent spray nozzle for spraying a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, a sterile air discharge nozzle for discharging sterile air, and the like are arranged. Prior to aseptic filling in the aseptic chamber 6, hydrogen peroxide and the like are sprayed from the sterilizing agent spray nozzle to sterilize the inside of the aseptic chamber 6, and aseptic treatment is performed to discharge aseptic air from the aseptic air discharge nozzle. As a result, the inside of the sterile chamber 6 is maintained at a positive pressure, and the invasion of microorganisms and the like from the outside into the sterile chamber 6 is prevented.

  The conveying means includes a delivery roll 7 for taking up the continuous container sheet 4, a take-up roll 8 for taking up the container sheet 4 delivered from the delivery roll 7, and both the delivery roll 7 and the take-up roll 8. There is provided an endless chain 9 with a clip, which travels while nipping both sides of the container sheet 4 between the rolls 7 and 8.

  The take-up roll 8 is rotatable in one direction by driving of a motor (not shown), and the container sheet 4 is pulled out from the delivery roll 7 in synchronization with the rotation.

  At a location where the container sheet 4 drawn out from the delivery roll 7 is introduced into the aseptic chamber 6, the following container sheet sterilizing means is provided.

  At the drawing-in place of the container sheet 4 in the aseptic chamber 6, a sterilization chamber 11 which doubles as a storage tank of the sterilizing agent 10 such as hydrogen peroxide solution is provided. The container sheet 4 delivered from the delivery roll 7 of the container sheet 4 is immersed in the sterilizing agent 10 in the sterilization chamber 11 and introduced into the aseptic chamber 6 while being sterilized.

  Air for scraping off the container sheet 4 to the place where the container sheet 4 travels after being immersed in the sterilizing agent 10 to remove the sterilizing agent 10 from the surface of the container sheet 4 A discharge nozzle 12 is provided, and a drying air discharge nozzle 13 for drying the sterilizing agent 10 remaining on the surface of the container sheet 4 by blowing drying air onto the container sheet 4 is further provided. As a result, the container sheet 4 that has been sterilized and from which the sterilizing agent 10 has been removed reaches the clipped endless chain 9.

  Commercially available endless chains 9 with clips are employed. This endless chain 9 is formed by attaching clips (not shown) at a constant pitch to an endless chain not shown but having a general structure, and two endless endless chains 9, 9 are respectively arranged in two parallel vertical planes. In a state where a loop is formed, the plurality of sprocket wheels 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d are bridged.

  Although the clip is not shown, the pair of pinching pieces is urged in the direction of always closing by the spring force of the coil spring, and a cam follower is formed on one pinching piece. They are arranged to face each other among nine. Further, the cam wheel is attached to the shafts of the upstream and downstream sprocket wheels 14a and 14b in the clipped endless chain 9 so as to keep the stationary state.

  When the endless chain 9 travels around the sprocket wheel 14a, when the cam ring and the cam follower of the clip come into sliding contact, the clip reaching the upper traveling portion of both endless chains 9 and 9 is once opened, and the cam follower is from the cam ring When it is separated, the clip is closed, and both sides of the container sheet 4 are gripped, and the container sheet 4 is traveled while being gripped. Thereafter, when the cam follower of the clip of the upper traveling portion slides on the cam wheel of the downstream sprocket wheel 14b, the clip opens once to release the packaging material, and when the cam follower is separated from the cam wheel, the clip is closed again. By repeating the operation of the clip of the endless chain 9 as described above, the container sheet 4 as the packaging material is conveyed in one direction while maintaining the horizontal state.

  The heating means is, for example, an electric heater 15 and is disposed opposite to the front and back of the container sheet 4 conveyed by the endless chain 9. By heating with the electric heater 15, the container sheet 4 is softened to the extent that it can be molded.

  The recess forming means comprises a forming die 16 corresponding to the recess to be formed in the container sheet 4. The container sheet 4 heated by the electric heater 15 of the heating means is sandwiched by the forming die 16, and the container 2 which is a large number of recesses is formed in the container sheet 4 by the action of vacuum pressure emptying.

  The filling means comprises a filling nozzle 17 projecting towards the container sheet 4 gripped by the clips of the endless chain 9. The filling nozzle 17 quantitatively fills the content a, which is, for example, milk, in the container 2 which is a concave portion formed in the container sheet 4. On the upstream side of the filling nozzle 17, although not shown, a sterilizing means for sterilizing the contents a, a storage tank, a pressure feed pump and the like are arranged.

  The filling means is provided with an inert gas supply nozzle 18 for supplying an inert gas such as nitrogen gas into the head space of the container 2 after being filled with the contents a, if necessary.

  The sealing means is a heating plate 19 which heat-seals the continuous lid sheet 5 which is the packaging material to a portion to be the flange 2 a of the container 2 formed in the container sheet 4. As the heating plate 19 moves up and down toward the container sheet 4 held by the clips of the endless chain 9, the lid sheet 5 is heat-sealed to the container sheet 4 and the contents a in the container sheet 4 are The filled container 2 is sealed.

  The lid sheet 5 is introduced into the sterile chamber 6 while being delivered from the delivery roll 20. Since the lid sheet 5 is adhered to the container sheet 4 in the aseptic chamber 6, the lid sheet 5 is pulled out of the delivery roll 20 as the container sheet 4 is pulled.

  Where the lid sheet 5 is introduced into the aseptic chamber 6, the following lid sheet sterilization means is provided.

  A sterilization chamber 21 is provided at a place where the lid sheet 5 is drawn into the aseptic chamber 6, and a storage tank 22 of a sterilizing agent 10 such as a hydrogen peroxide solution is provided in the sterilization chamber 21. The lid sheet 5 delivered from the delivery roll 20 is immersed in the sterilizing agent 10 in the storage tank 22, passes through the inside of the sterilization chamber 21 while being sterilized, and is introduced into the aseptic chamber 6. At the location where the lid sheet 5 travels after being immersed in the sterilizing agent 10, a scraping air is blown onto the lid sheet 5 to remove the sterilizing agent 10 from the surface of the lid sheet 5. A discharge nozzle 23 is provided, and a drying air discharge nozzle 24 for drying the bactericidal agent 10 remaining on the surface of the lid sheet 5 by blowing drying air onto the lid sheet 5 is further provided. Thereby, the lid sheet 5 which has been sterilized and from which the sterilizing agent 10 has been removed is introduced into the sterile chamber 6.

  The punching means is, for example, a punching punch 25. When the container sheet 4 closed by the lid sheet 5 comes directly below the punching punch 25, the punching punch 25 descends toward the overlapping sheet of the container sheet 4 and the lid sheet 5, whereby FIG. The package 1 which is a cup-packed product shown in is punched from the overlapping sheet. Below the punching punch 25, a conveyer 26 is provided for receiving and conveying the package 1.

  Before the aseptic filling machine operates or immediately after the maintenance work is performed, the inside of the aseptic chamber 6 is likely to be contaminated with microorganisms. Therefore, as described above, a nozzle or the like for spraying the sterilizing agent 10 for sterilizing the inside of the aseptic chamber 6 is provided in the aseptic chamber 6. However, as described above, since the clipped endless chain 9 has a large number of complicated and small gaps, the mere spray of the sterilizing agent 10 can not perform sufficient sterilization treatment.

  Therefore, the aseptic filling machine is provided with a sterilizer for sterilizing the clipped endless chain 9 as described below.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a guide sprocket wheel 27 is provided to the lower traveling portion of the endless chain 9, whereby the endless chain 9 is provided with a bypass traveling portion. The detour traveling portion of the endless chain 9 is covered with the immersion tank 28.

  A sterilizing agent 10 such as a hydrogen peroxide solution is stored in the immersion tank 28, and when the endless chain 9 is driven, the endless chain 9 travels while being immersed in the sterilizing agent 10 in the immersion tank 28. By this traveling, the germicide 10 adheres to the surface of the endless chain 9, and the surface of the endless chain 9 is sterilized.

  Further, in the immersion tank 28, an ultrasonic transducer 29 is installed. The ultrasonic transducers 29 are installed on the bottom surface of the immersion tank 28 so as to face the endless chains 9. The ultrasonic transducer 29 may be disposed on the side surface of the immersion tank 28 or may be additionally provided on the side surface besides the bottom surface. It is desirable that the distance between the ultrasonic transducer 29 and the endless chain 9 be the clearance between the ultrasonic transducer and a location where cavitation of the endless chain 9 is likely to occur. This distance can be determined by an erosion test

  When an ultrasonic wave is irradiated from the ultrasonic transducer 29 toward the endless chain 9 traveling in the sterilizing agent 10 in the sterilizing tank 28, air bubbles from various fine gaps in the roller, bush, clip, etc. of the endless chain 9 The germicide 10 adheres uniformly to each part of the endless chain 9. Thus, the entire endless chain 9 is properly sterilized.

  The irradiation time of the ultrasonic wave by the ultrasonic transducer 29 may be instantaneous for one pitch of the endless chain 9, but about 2 seconds is appropriate. In the case of making the irradiation time longer, it can be coped with by increasing the number of ultrasonic transducers 29 provided.

  The frequency of the ultrasonic wave irradiated from the ultrasonic transducer 29 toward the endless chain 9 is preferably several tens of kHz to 100 kHz in the low frequency range, more preferably 20 kHz to 50 kHz, in order to facilitate removal of bubbles. It is.

  Moreover, the sterilizing agent 10 in the immersion tank 28 is desirably set to 25 ° C. to 50 ° C., for example, when it is a hydrogen peroxide solution, but depending on the temperature to be set, it is heated as necessary. By heating the bactericide 10, the bactericidal effect can be enhanced.

  Next, the operation of the aseptic filling apparatus will be described.

  (1) The sterilization processing in the aseptic chamber 6 is performed before the operation of the aseptic filling apparatus or after the maintenance.

  That is, hydrogen peroxide and the like are sprayed from a sterilizing agent spray nozzle (not shown) in the sterile chamber 6. Next, the heated sterile air is discharged from a sterile air discharge nozzle (not shown). Thereby, the bactericidal effect is enhanced by drying and heating the bactericide 10 sprayed into the sterile chamber 6. Further, by continuously blowing sterile air into the sterile chamber 6, the inside of the sterile chamber 6 is kept at positive pressure. This prevents the entry of microorganisms and the like from the outside into the sterile chamber 6.

  (2) The endless chain 9 is driven simultaneously with the start of the sterilization process in the aseptic chamber 6 of the aseptic filling machine, and the sterilization of the aseptic chain 9 is started. The endless chain 9 begins to be immersed in the sterilizing agent 10 in the immersion tank 28 by starting to travel through the detour traveling unit, and the entire length of the endless chain 9 is the immersion tank until the spraying of the sterilizing agent 10 in the sterile chamber 6 is completed. Finish the immersion by passing through 28. The entire length of the endless chain 9 is dipped in the sterilizing agent 10 in the immersion tank 28, whereby the sterilizing agent 10 is applied to the entire endless chain 9.

  (3) While the endless chain 9 passes through the immersion tank 28, ultrasonic waves are emitted from the ultrasonic transducer 29 toward the endless chain 9.

  As a result, vibration occurs in the endless chain 9 and air bubbles escape from various fine gaps in the rollers, bushes, clips and the like of the endless chain 9, and the sterilizing agent 10 uniformly adheres to each part of the endless chain 9.

  (4) At the same time as the spraying of the germicide 10 in the sterile chamber 6 is finished, the immersion treatment of the germicide 10 to the endless chain 9 is completed.

  (5) The above-mentioned heated aseptic air blown into the aseptic chamber 6 performs the drying process of the excess bactericidal agent 10 supplied in the aseptic chamber 6, and at the same time, the sterilizing agent 10 attached to the endless chain 9. Drying is also performed. Thereby, the bactericidal agent 10 is activated and the bactericidal effect is enhanced.

  Thus, simultaneously with the completion of the drying of the germicide 10 in the sterile chamber 6, the sterilization of the endless chain 9 is also completed.

  (6) After the sterilization process of the endless chain 9 is completed, the sterilizing agent 10 in the immersion tank 28 is replaced with the sterile water to which the lubricant is added.

  (7) Even after the sterilization in the aseptic chamber 6 is completed, the blowing of aseptic air is maintained. As a result, the inside of the sterile chamber 6 is positively pressurized, and the outside air, microorganisms and the like are prevented from entering the sterile chamber 6.

  (8) The container sheet 4 is conveyed in the aseptic chamber 6 by driving the endless chain 9 or the like, and is heated by the electric heater 15 to a shapeable temperature. Subsequently, after the container 2 which is a concave portion is formed in the container sheet 4 by the forming die 16, the container 2 is intermittently transported to the filling nozzle 17, the inert gas supply nozzle 18, the heating plate 19 and the punching punch 25. The filling of the contents a, the supply of the inert gas, the heat sealing of the lid sheet 5, and the punching of the superimposed sheet of the container sheet 4 and the lid sheet 5 are sequentially performed. Thereby, the package 1 shown in FIG. 3 is completed.

  (9) The overlapping sheet of the container sheet 4 and the lid sheet 5 after the package 1 is punched out is wound around the winding roll 8 and discarded.

  (10) Thereafter, the same operation is repeated to produce the sterile package 1.

  Examples and comparative examples will be described below.

1. Test method (1) Evaluation sample: Endless chain with clip (2) Applied bacteria: B. atrophaeus ATCC 9372
(3) The number of coated bacteria: 1 μl of a 1.4 × 10 ⁶ cfu / μl * 10 ⁹ cfu / ml spore suspension was applied.
(4) Place where bacteria are applied: Two places between the inner and outer plates, and between the roller and the bush (5) Treatment conditions: See Table 1, all performed at n = 5, and the ultrasonic irradiation time was 2 seconds.
(6) Evaluation procedure (a) The ultrasonic transducer was placed in the immersion tank, and the gantry was installed so as to be 25 mm in height from the ultrasonic transducer, and the hydrogen peroxide solution was stored in the immersion tank. Three pitches of the chain were placed on a reticulated stainless steel tray, and the tray and the tray were slowly placed on a pedestal in the immersion tank.
(B) Immersion time was made into 5 seconds, and the ultrasonic wave was irradiated to the chain only for 2 seconds of those, Then, it pulled up from hydrogen peroxide solution slowly, and collect | recovered in the petri dish.
(C) Allow the chain to stand with the Petri dish for 30 minutes in an incubator, then remove the hydrogen peroxide with a sterile hydrogen peroxide decomposition solution obtained by filtering the chain with a membrane filter, collect in SCD broth medium, 35 ° C. × After 7 days of culture, the presence or absence of bacterial growth was confirmed.

2. Test Results As is clear from the culture results shown in Table 2, when ultrasonic irradiation was performed, sterilization was possible even at a temperature of 30 ° C. of the hydrogen peroxide solution between the inner and outer plates, and between the roller and the bush. From this, it was confirmed that ultrasonic waves cause air bubbles in gaps in the chain to escape or move by vibration, and the hydrogen peroxide solution uniformly adheres to the entire chain, which is an effective treatment method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Package body 6 ... Aseptic chamber 7 ... Sterilization chamber 9 ... Endless chain 10 ... Sterilizer 28 ... Immersion tank 29 ... Ultrasonic transducer

Claims (12)

In the sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine in which the endless chain for transporting the packaging material is sterilized by immersing the endless chain in the immersion tank, the ultrasonic transducer is installed in the immersion tank, and A method of sterilizing a aseptic filling machine, comprising irradiating an ultrasonic wave from an acoustic wave transducer toward an endless chain traveling in a sterilizing agent in a dip tank and removing air bubbles from the endless chain .   The method of sterilizing a sterile filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of ultrasonic waves is several tens of kHz to 100 kHz.   The sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of ultrasonic waves is set to 20 kHz to 50 kHz.   The sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the temperature of the sterilizing agent in the immersion tank is 25 ° C to 50 ° C.   In the sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, sterilization by immersing an endless chain in a sterilizing agent is started simultaneously with the start of the sterilization treatment in the aseptic chamber of the aseptic filling machine. The method is characterized in that the immersion of the endless chain into the bactericidal agent is completed by the end of the spray of the bactericide in the sterile chamber, and the sterilization of the endless chain is also completed by the completion of the drying of the bactericide in the sterile chamber. How to sterilize aseptic filling machines.   In the sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, after the sterilization treatment of the endless chain is completed, replacing the sterilizing agent in the immersion tank with the aseptic water to which the lubricant is added. A method of sterilizing aseptic filling machines characterized by In the sterilizer of the aseptic filling machine in which the endless chain for transporting the packaging material is sterilized by immersing the endless chain in the immersion tank, the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transducer is applied to the sterilizer in the sterilization tank. An apparatus for sterilizing a aseptic filling machine, characterized in that an ultrasonic transducer is installed in an immersion tank so as to be irradiated toward an endless chain traveling inside and to remove air bubbles from the endless chain .   The sterilizing apparatus of the aseptic filling machine according to claim 7, wherein the ultrasonic transducer irradiates ultrasonic waves having a frequency of several tens of kHz to 100 kHz toward the endless chain. Sterilizer.   The sterilizing apparatus for the aseptic filling machine according to claim 7, wherein the ultrasonic transducer irradiates ultrasonic waves having a frequency of 20 kHz to 50 kHz toward the endless chain. .   The sterilizing apparatus of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the temperature of the sterilizing agent in the immersion tank is set to 25 ° C to 50 ° C. .   In the sterilizer of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 7 to 10, the sterilizing by immersing the endless chain in a sterilizing agent is started simultaneously with the start of the sterilizing process in the aseptic chamber of the aseptic filling machine. The immersion of the endless chain into the bactericidal agent is completed by the end of the spray of the bactericide in the sterile chamber, and the sterilization of the endless chain is also completed by the completion of the drying of the bactericide in the sterile chamber. Sterilizer of aseptic filling machine characterized by.   The sterilizing apparatus of the aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein after sterilizing the endless chain is completed, the sterilizing agent in the immersion tank is replaced with the aseptic water to which the lubricant is added. A sterilizing apparatus for an aseptic filling machine characterized in that.

Images