JP6725886B2 - How to sterilize bottles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bottle sterilizing method and apparatus.

Conventionally, while continuously running the preform, a sterilizing agent is applied to the preform, the preform is directly introduced into the heating furnace, and the preform is heated to a temperature for forming the container in the heating furnace. Has proposed a method of simultaneously drying and activating a bactericide applied to a preform, and then molding a bottle. The bottle thus obtained is in a sterilized state (Patent Documents 1, 2, 3).

In addition, the preform is preheated, hydrogen peroxide mist or gas is sprayed on the preheated preform, the preform is further heated to the molding temperature, and the preform that has reached the molding temperature is bottled in the blow molding die that also continuously runs. A beverage filling method has been proposed in which the bottle is molded into a mold, the bottle is taken out of the blow mold, and then the bottle is filled with a beverage and sealed with a lid (see, for example, Patent Documents 4 and 5).

Further, the preform is immersed in a sterilizing solution to be sterilized, and after removing the sterilizing solution adhering to the preform from the preform, the preform is placed in a heating furnace and heated to a molding temperature, and then blow molded into a container. Has also been proposed (Patent Document 6).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-510104 JP, 2008-183899, A Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-546605 JP, 2013-35561, A JP, 2013-35562, A JP-A-4-44902

The above-mentioned prior art is to sterilize the preform before molding the bottle, but hydrogen peroxide attached to the preform for sterilization enters the blow molding machine together with the preform. The hydrogen peroxide that has entered the blow molding machine may damage various members such as a seal member in the blow molding machine and equipment. Also, in order to prevent sterilization failure, if a large amount of condensed mist of hydrogen peroxide is sprayed at the preform stage, the amount of hydrogen peroxide adhering to the preform will not be uniform, so the preform will be heated. In addition, uneven heating occurs in the preform before blow molding, and molding defects such as whitening, distortion, and molding unevenness are likely to occur in the bottle.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following configurations.

It should be noted that although reference numerals are given in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The bottle sterilizing method according to the present invention, in the bottle running in a tunnel-shaped cover that covers from above the mouth of the bottle that surrounds the running path of the bottle other than the open part where the gripper that grips the bottle neck turns. A method of sterilizing a bottle spraying a hydrogen peroxide mist or gas or a mixture thereof, wherein the bottle running in the cover is aseptic to the bottle before the hydrogen peroxide mist or gas or a mixture thereof is sprayed. Hot air is sprayed on the bottle, and the bottle running in the cover is sprayed with the mist or gas of hydrogen peroxide or a mixture thereof, and then sterile hot air is sprayed on the bottle, and the bottle running in the cover is charged with the excess gas. Before spraying the hydrogen peroxide mist or gas or a mixture thereof on the bottle running in the cover, aseptic hot air is sprayed on the bottle, which is sprayed with hydrogen oxide mist or gas or a mixture thereof. When the pressure of the sprayed portion is p0 and the pressure of the sprayed hot air on the bottle after spraying the mist or gas of hydrogen peroxide or a mixture thereof on the bottle running in the cover is p2, p2 It is characterized in that the pressure is adjusted so that the relation of >p0>p1 is satisfied . Further, the invention according to another embodiment of the present application is a step of adsorbing a germicide to a preform (1) made of a resin, heating the preform (1) adsorbing the germicide to a blow molding temperature, A step of sterilizing the preform (1) by activating the sterilizing agent adsorbed by the reform (1), and blowing air into the preform (1) in the blow molding die (4) to form the bottle (2). Adopt a bottle sterilization method that sequentially performs the steps.

Further, in a bottle sterilizing method according to another embodiment of the present invention, a preform is obtained by gasifying a sterilizing agent and discharging the gas (G) from the nozzle (6) toward the preform (1). It is also possible to adsorb a bactericide to (1).

Further, in a bottle sterilizing method according to another embodiment of the present invention, a sterilizing agent is sprayed into the vaporizing section (9) to be gasified, and this gas is discharged from a nozzle (6) of the vaporizing section (9). It is also possible to adsorb the germicide to the preform (1) by discharging it toward the reform (1).

Further, in a bottle sterilizing method according to another embodiment of the present invention, air (P) is blown to the preform (1) to which the bactericide is adhered to remove the surplus bactericide from the preform (1). It is also possible to adsorb a bactericide to the preform (1).

Moreover, in the bottle sterilizing method according to another embodiment of the present invention, after the sterilizing agent is dropped on the preform (1), the preform (1) is aged in a closed chamber to obtain the preform (1). It is also possible to adsorb a bactericidal agent.

In the bottle sterilizing method according to another embodiment of the present invention, the sterilizing agent may be a solution containing at least 1% by mass of a hydrogen peroxide component.

Further, in the bottle sterilizing method according to another embodiment of the present invention, when the preform is heated to the blow molding temperature, the upper part of the preform mouth may be covered with the umbrella-shaped member.

Further, in the bottle sterilization method according to another embodiment of the present invention, after heating the preform to the blow molding temperature, when conveyed to the blow mold, aseptic air toward the mouth of the preform. You may make it spray.

In addition, the invention according to another embodiment of the present application is to run the preform (1) and the bottle (2) from the supply of the preform (1) adsorbing the bactericide to the molding of the bottle (2). Means is provided, and the preform (1) is heated to the blow molding temperature from the upstream side to the downstream side in the traveling means, and the preform (1) is activated by activating the germicide. A bottle sterilization apparatus is provided in which a heating furnace (33) for sterilizing 1) and a blow molding die (4) for blow molding the preform (1) into a bottle (2) by air are sequentially provided.

In a bottle sterilizer according to another embodiment of the present invention, a sterilizing agent sprayed by a preform spray nozzle (8) while removing an excess sterilizing agent from the preform (1) is used. The vaporizing part (9) that gasifies, the germicide supply nozzle (6) that discharges the gas (G) produced in the vaporizing part (9) toward the preform (1), and the gas is discharged from the nozzle (6). The preform (1) having the disinfectant attached thereto may be provided with air nozzles (80) for spraying air (P) onto the preform (1) and adsorbing the air onto the preform (1) in the traveling means.

Further, in the bottle sterilizing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, the sterilizing agent may be a solution containing at least 1% by mass of a hydrogen peroxide component.

In addition, in the bottle sterilizing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, an umbrella-shaped member that covers above the mouth of the preform may be provided in the heating furnace.

Further, in a bottle sterilizer according to another embodiment of the present invention, a preform is provided with a cover on a traveling path that goes out of the heating furnace and goes to the blow mold, and from this cover side to the mouth of the preform. Aseptic air may be blown toward the surface.

According to the present invention, a step of adsorbing a bactericidal agent to a resin preform (1), and heating the preform (1) adsorbing the bactericidal agent to a blow molding temperature to sterilize the preform (1) Of the bottle that sequentially performs the step of sterilizing the preform (1) by activating the agent and the step of blowing sterile air into the preform (1) in the blow molding die (4) to form the bottle (2) Since it is a sterilization method, only the sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide adsorbed on the preform (1) is brought into the blow molding machine (12) together with the preform (1). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sterilizing agent from entering the blow molding machine (12) alone, and it is possible to prevent various devices in the blow molding machine (12) from being damaged by the sterilizing agent.

In addition, since the surface of the preform (1) carried into the blow molding machine (12) does not have condensed germicide attached, whitening, distortion, molding unevenness, etc. during molding of the bottle (2) It is possible to prevent the defective molding of.

Further, the bactericide adsorbed on the preform (1) is activated by being heated to the blow molding temperature together with the preform (1), and accordingly, the microorganisms attached to the preform (1) are appropriately sterilized, The sterilizing effect of the preform (1) is improved, and the sterilizing effect of the bottle (2) is improved.

The bottle sterilization method according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is represented, (A) and (B) each represent a step of carrying out the bottle sterilization method according to the present invention, and (C) is performed after sterilization of a preform. Represents a heating step. (D), (E), (F), and (G) show a molding process, a bottle removing process, a content filling process, and a sealing process, which are performed after sterilization of the preform, respectively. It is a top view which shows the outline of an example of the aseptic filling apparatus which incorporated the bottle sterilizer which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of a germicide gas generator for generating hydrogen peroxide gas. The air nozzle incorporated in the bottle sterilization apparatus which concerns on this invention is shown, (A) is the top view, (B) is a vertical cross section. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a hydrogen peroxide supply nozzle incorporated in the bottle sterilizer according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the process of blowing hot air on a preform. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other modification of the process of blowing hot air on a preform. It is explanatory drawing which shows the further another modified example of the process of blowing hot air on a preform. 2 shows Embodiment 2 of the bottle sterilization method according to the present invention, wherein (A) is a step of dropping an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution into the preform, and (B) is a step of aging the preform onto which the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is dropped. Represents. The bottle sterilization method according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is shown, and (A), (B), and (C) show a hydrogen peroxide supply step, a hot air supply step, and a heating step, respectively, for a preform. (D), (E), and (F) show a sterile air supply process for a preform, a molding process, and a sterile air supply process for a bottle, respectively. (G) shows a hydrogen peroxide supply step for the bottle, and (H1) or (H2) shows an air rinse step after the hydrogen peroxide supply step. (I), (J), and (k) respectively show a warm water rinsing step, a content filling step, and a sealing step after the hydrogen peroxide supply step. It is a top view which shows the other example of the aseptic filling apparatus incorporating the bottle sterilizer. FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view showing a nozzle for blowing hot air into the preform in FIG. 11(C). It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the nozzle used instead of the germicide supply nozzle shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of a sterile air supply process. It is a top view which shows the aseptic filling apparatus which incorporated the process of FIG. It is a figure which shows the modification of a sterile air supply process. It is a top view which shows the aseptic filling apparatus incorporating the process of FIG. It is a top view which shows the other example of the aseptic filling apparatus incorporating the bottle sterilizer.

Modes for carrying out the present invention will be described below.

<Embodiment 1>
According to the first embodiment, the preform is sterilized to mold the bottle as a sterile one, filled with a sterile beverage, sealed with a sterile lid, and packaged as a final product shown in FIG. 2(G). The body can be manufactured.

This package includes a sterile bottle 2 and a cap 3 as a lid.

Although the bottle 2 is made of PET in this embodiment, it is not limited to PET and can be made of other resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. A resin in which recycled PET is distributed can also be used. A male screw is formed on the mouth 2a of the bottle 2.

The cap 3 is formed by injection molding or the like using a resin such as polyethylene as a material, and at the same time when the cap 3 is molded, a female screw is also formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof.

The bottle 2 is filled with the sterilized beverage a in a state where the inside thereof is sterilized in advance. After filling the beverage a, the cap 3 is put on the mouth 2a of the bottle 2, and the mouth 2a of the bottle 2 is sealed by screwing the male and female screws to complete the package. The cap 3 is also sterilized in advance.

The bottle 2 is sterilized, molded, filled with beverage, and sealed in the following procedure to form a package.

First, the preform 1 shown in FIG. 1A is continuously conveyed at a desired speed.

The preform 1 is formed as a test tube-shaped bottomed tubular body by injection molding of PET or the like. The preform 1 has a mouth 2a similar to that of the bottle 2 shown in FIG. A male screw is formed in the mouth 2a at the same time when the preform 1 is molded.

First, as shown in FIG. 1(A), the sterilant gas G or mist or a mixture thereof is supplied to the running preform 1.

Hydrogen peroxide is used as the germicide in this embodiment, but other germicides can be used.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the preform 1 is sprayed with a gas G of hydrogen peroxide, which is a germicide, from a germicide supply nozzle 6.

The hydrogen peroxide gas G flows into the germicide supply nozzle 6 in two separate flows, one of which spouts toward the inside of the preform 1 and the other of which spouts toward the outer surface of the preform 1. The hydrogen peroxide gas G flows into the preform 1 after leaving the sterilizing agent supply nozzle 6 and remains in the gas state or becomes a mist or a mixture thereof. Contact the outer surface of.

Moreover, the circumference of the flow of the gas G ejected toward the inside of the preform 1 is covered with the umbrella-shaped member 30. The gas G or mist that has flowed into the preform 1 overflows from the mouth 2a of the preform 1. The flow of the overflowed gas G or the like collides with the umbrella-shaped member 30 and is guided to the inner surface of the umbrella-shaped member 30. Then, the flow is changed toward the outer surface of the preform 1 and comes into contact with the outer surface of the preform 1.

The hydrogen peroxide gas G sprayed on the preform 1 is generated by the germicide germicide gas generator 7, which will be described later with reference to FIG. The hydrogen peroxide gas G flows out from the sterilizing agent supply nozzle 6 and comes into contact with the inner surface and the outer surface of the preform 1.

The hydrogen peroxide gas G forms a condensed film of hydrogen peroxide in terms of 35 mass% and desirably adheres to the surface of the preform 1 in the range of 0.001 μL/cm ^{2 to} 0.5 μL/cm ² . This adhesion amount is more preferably 0.002 μL/cm ^{2 to} 0.4 μL/cm ² .

Part of the hydrogen peroxide adhering to the surface of the preform 1 is adsorbed by the preform 1, and the remaining part remains as an excess on the surface of the preform 1.

Although not shown, the disinfectant supply nozzle 6 may be installed in the tunnel, and the gripper 32 (see FIG. 6) that conveys the preform 1 may be covered with a duct. As a result, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide gas, which is a sterilizing agent, in the tunnel is increased, and it is possible to condense the hydrogen peroxide gas to every corner of the introduced preform 1 at room temperature.

The preform 1 to which hydrogen peroxide has been supplied is then supplied with hot air P by an air nozzle 80, as shown in FIG.

By blowing the hot air P, the excess hydrogen peroxide remaining on the surface of the preform 1 is promptly removed from the surface of the preform 1.

As shown in FIG. 1(B), the hot air P is blown out from a slit-shaped outlet 80a formed in a box-shaped manifold 80b forming the main body of the air nozzle 80, but as shown in FIG. The hot air P may be blown toward the preform 1 from the blowout nozzle 81. Further, a suction pipe 82 is arranged in the vicinity of the blowing nozzle 81, and when the hot air P is blown into the preform 1 from the blowing nozzle 81, foreign substances such as dust discharged outside the preform 1 are sucked by the suction pipe 82. You may do it. By collecting the foreign matter with the suction pipe 82 as described above, it is possible to prevent the foreign matter from being mixed into other preforms or a bottle to be molded later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the blowout nozzle 81 for ejecting the hot air P is arranged upward, the preform 1 is set upside down, and the hot air P is put in the mouth portion 2a of the preform 1 which is directed downward from the blowout nozzle 81. May be blown in. As a result, the foreign matter in the preform 1 falls outside the preform 1 due to the air pressure of the air blown from the blowout nozzle 81 and the self-weight of the foreign matter.

As shown in FIG. 1(C), the sterilized preform 1 is heated by the infrared heater 18a and other heating means to a temperature suitable for subsequent blow molding. This temperature is about 90°C to 130°C.

The mouth 2a of the preform 1 is kept at a temperature of 70° C. or lower in order to prevent deformation and the like.

At the time of this heating, the preform 1 is desirably suspended in an upright state (or an inverted state) by inserting a spindle (or mandrel) 43 into its mouth 2a, as shown in FIG. 1(C). In the lowered state, it is conveyed while rotating together with the spindle (or mandrel) 43. As a result, the preform 1 is uniformly heated by the infrared heater 18a.

By inserting a mandrel into the preform 1 instead of the spindle 43, the preform 1 can be conveyed while being rotated in an inverted state.

By heating the preform by the infrared heater 18a, the hydrogen peroxide adsorbed on the preform 1 is activated and the microorganisms attached to the preform 1 are sterilized.

The heated preform 1 is blow-molded into the bottle 2 in the mold 4, as shown in FIG.

The mold 4, which is a blow molding mold, is in a mold clamped state while continuously traveling at the same speed as the traveling speed of the preform 1, and after the mold 4 is blow-molded with respect to the preform 1, the mold 4 is formed. It is opened.

As described above, the preform 1 is uniformly heated to a temperature range suitable for molding in the heating step shown in FIG. 1C, except for the mouth portion 2a, and the heated preform 1 is As shown in FIG. 2(D), it is mounted in the mold 4, and a stretch rod (not shown) is inserted into the preform 1 through the center hole of the blow nozzle 5.

While the mold 4 is running, for example, aseptic air for primary blow and aseptic air for secondary blow are sequentially blown into the preform 1 from the blow nozzle 5, so that the preform 1 is stored in the cavity C of the mold 4. Inflate to bottle 2 of the final molded product.

When the bottle 2 is molded in the mold 4 in this way, the mold 4 continues to run and opens the mold, and the finished product of the bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4 as shown in FIG. 2(E). Be done.

The bottle 2 taken out from the mold 4 is filled with the beverage a from the filling nozzle 10 as shown in FIG. 2(F), and then covered with the cap 3 as a lid as shown in FIG. 2(G). To be

The beverage a, which is the content, can be filled at room temperature in a sterile environment after sterilizing the beverage a itself.

Alternatively, as shown in Table 1 below, it is possible to fill the beverage a at a medium temperature of 60°C to 75°C.

When a past riser or past cooler is not used, assuming an outside air temperature of 3° C., a sufficient sterilizing effect can be obtained by filling at a temperature of 70° C. or higher.

When using a pasteurizer or past cooler, by treating the pasteurizer temperature at 60°C to 65°C for 5 minutes to 10 minutes, a certain bactericidal effect on mold spores even if the filling temperature is lowered to 60°C. Can be obtained.

If the temperature at the time of filling the beverage is higher than 75°C, the sterilizing effect is sufficient, but if the bottle is made of PET, the bottle will be deformed unless it is a heat-resistant PET bottle. Therefore, the test was conducted at a temperature of 75° C. or lower.

However, in Table 1, "○" indicates a bactericidal effect of 6.0 Log or more, "△" indicates a bactericidal effect of 5.5 Log to 6.0 Log, and "x" indicates a bactericidal effect of less than 5.5 Log.

The test in Table 1 is carried out for the purpose of determining the filling temperature conditions for beverages and the like that can obtain a sterilizing effect of 6.0 Log or more on A. niger NBRC6341 on the inner surface of the bottle and the inner surface of the cap. There are molds that are more heat resistant than this bacterium, but in view of the sterilizing effect of drug sterilization on preforms and the sterilizing effect of SOP on chambers, commercial sterile filling is possible by ensuring a sterilizing effect of 6 logs on this mold. it is conceivable that.

The test was to fill the bottle with fungus with hot water, perform sterilization by inversion for 30 seconds immediately after filling, then perform the treatment of the conditions in the table, filter the filled water with a filter, incubate and leave. It was performed by pouring a liquid medium into water and culturing separately.

When filling at medium temperature, survival of spore-forming bacteria in the beverage a and the bottle 2 is allowed, but mold, yeast, etc. are sterilized by the heat of the beverage a, and the PET bottle 2 is transformed. Don't come Therefore, the medium-temperature filling is suitable when the beverage a is a neutral beverage that has a proven track record in hot packs such as acidic beverages, carbonated beverages, and mineral water that have the property of inhibiting germination of spore bacteria.

An aseptic filling device for carrying out the preform sterilization method is configured as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

As shown in FIG. 3, the beverage filling device includes a preform feeder 11 for sequentially feeding a cylindrical bottomed preform 1 (see FIG. 1A) having a mouth 2a, and a blow molding. A machine 12 and a filling machine 13 for filling the molded bottle 2 (see FIG. 2E) with the beverage a and sealing with the cap 3 (see FIG. 2G) are provided.

This beverage filling device is surrounded by chambers 41a, 41b, 41c and 41d at a position from the blow molding machine 12 to the filling machine 13. The chamber 41b may not be a closed structure such as a chamber, but may be a structure having only a frame like a shroud.

In addition, the chamber 41b is sterilized before manufacturing the package, positive pressure air that has passed through a HEPA filter is supplied into the chamber 41b, and the inside of the chamber 41b is maintained in a sterile state, whereby a bottle having a high sterility level is manufactured. It is possible. As one of the sterilization methods, the inside of the chamber 41b may be gas sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas of 10 mg/L or less. Further, a site where the preform 1 and the bottle 2 come into contact with each other may be irradiated with a UV lamp (ultraviolet ray sterilization). Alternatively, a portion such as a die, a drawing rod, or a gripper that comes into contact with the material may be wiped with a chemical containing 1% by mass of ethanol or hydrogen peroxide.

Between the preform supply machine 11 and the filling machine 13, a preform carrying means for carrying the preform 1 on the first carrying path, and a mold 4 having a cavity C in the shape of a finished product of the bottle 2 (see FIG. 2(D)), and a mold conveying unit for conveying the second mold on the second conveyer path connected to the first conveyer path, and the bottle 2 molded by the mold 4 to the second conveyer path. And a bottle carrying means for carrying on a third carrying path connected to the.

The first transfer path of the preform transfer means, the second transfer path of the mold transfer means, and the third transfer path of the bottle transfer means communicate with each other, and the preform 1 is placed on these transfer paths. An unillustrated gripper or the like for holding and transporting the bottle 2 is provided.

The preform conveying means is provided with a preform conveyor 14 which sequentially supplies the preforms 1 at predetermined intervals on the first conveying path. Further, it is provided with a row of wheels 15, 16 and 17 that receives and conveys the preform 1 from the end of the preform conveyor 14, and an endless chain 18 that receives and runs the preform 1.

A disinfectant gas generator 7 for generating hydrogen peroxide gas G and a disinfectant supply for discharging the hydrogen peroxide gas G toward the preform 1 at a fixed position on the traveling path of the preform 1 on the wheel 15. The nozzle 6 is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 4, the disinfectant disinfectant gas generator 7 includes a hydrogen peroxide supply unit 8 that is a two-fluid spray nozzle that supplies an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide that is a disinfectant in the form of drops, and the peroxide. And a vaporization unit 9 for heating the atomized hydrogen peroxide supplied from the hydrogen supply unit 8 to a non-decomposition temperature equal to or higher than its boiling point and vaporized. The hydrogen peroxide supply unit 8 introduces the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution and the compressed air from the hydrogen peroxide supply passage 8a and the compressed air supply passage 8b, respectively, and sprays the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution into the vaporization unit 9. ing. The vaporizing section 9 is a pipe in which a heater 9a is sandwiched between inner and outer walls, and heats and vaporizes the spray of hydrogen peroxide blown into the pipe. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas is ejected from the hydrogen peroxide supply nozzle 6 to the outside of the vaporization section 9.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sterilizing agent supply nozzle 6 is branched into a plurality of conduits 6a and 6b for sending the hydrogen peroxide gas G.

The discharge port of one of the plurality of conduits 6a and 6b faces the opening of the mouth 2a of the preform 1. The hydrogen peroxide gas G generated by the germicide germicide gas generator 7 is blown toward the preform 1 from the discharge port of the duct 6a of the germicide supply nozzle 6, and becomes the gas G or mist or a mixture thereof. Flows into the preform 1. As a result, hydrogen peroxide adheres to the inner surface of the preform 1.

It should be noted that hot air, which is aseptic air, is supplied to the germicide supply nozzle 6, the conduits 6a, 6b, etc. from the middle thereof to prevent dew condensation in the pipes. Good. Further, the electric ribbon heater may be wound around the conduits 6a and 6b to prevent dew condensation.

Desirably, the periphery of the discharge port of the conduit 6a is covered with the umbrella-shaped member 30. An annular groove 30 a having a substantially semicircular cross section is formed on the lower surface of the umbrella-shaped member 30. The gas G or mist of hydrogen peroxide or the mixture thereof which has entered the preform 1 through the discharge port of the pipe 6a overflows from the mouth 2a of the preform 1 after filling the preform 1. The overflowed hydrogen peroxide gas G or mist or a mixture thereof is guided to the outer surface of the preform 1 by the lower surface of the umbrella-shaped member 30 and the annular groove 30a, and flows down along the outer surface of the preform 1. As a result, the hydrogen peroxide discharged from the conduit 6a also adheres to the outer surface of the preform 1.

Further, the other conduit 6b is extended in a substantially U shape so as to follow the outer surface of the preform 1, and the discharge port 31 thereof faces the outer surface of the preform 1. The hydrogen peroxide gas G generated in the germicide germicide gas generator 7 is blown toward the outer surface of the preform 1 from the discharge port 31 of the other pipe line 6 b of the germicide supply nozzle 6 to generate the gas G or The mist or a mixture thereof is sprayed on the outer surface of the preform 1. As a result, the hydrogen peroxide from the conduit 6a and the hydrogen peroxide overflowing from the mouth 2a of the preform 1 are combined and attached to the outer surface of the preform 1 to sterilize the microorganisms attached to the outer surface of the preform 1. To do.

The inner diameter of the discharge port of the conduit 6a for supplying the gas G to the inner surface of the preform 1, the inner diameter of the discharge port 31 of the conduit 6b for supplying the gas G to the outer surface of the preform 1, the number of the discharge ports 31 and the like are adjusted. This makes it possible to adjust the amount of hydrogen peroxide attached to the inner surface and the outer surface of the preform 1, respectively.

It should be noted that reference numeral 32 in FIG. 6 denotes a gripper arranged around the wheel 15 for carrying the preform 1.

Hot air P is discharged toward the preform 1 on the running path of the preform 1 on the wheel 16 to activate the hydrogen peroxide adhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 and to discharge the hydrogen peroxide to the outside of the preform 1. An air nozzle 80 (see FIG. 1B) is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 5(A), the air nozzle 80 has a box-shaped manifold 80b that is curved following the arc of the wheel 16, and has a slit-shaped outlet 80a on the bottom surface of this manifold 80b. The air nozzle 80 is arranged above the wheel 18 so that the air outlet 80 a extends along the traveling path of the preform 1 on the wheel 18. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, a blower 76, a HEPA filter 77, and an electric heater 78 are connected to the manifold 80b. The outside air taken in from the blower 76 is sterilized by the HEPA filter 77, heated by the electric heater 78, becomes hot air P, and is sent into the air nozzle 80.

The air supplied to the air nozzle 80 may not be the air from the blower 76, but may be compressed air having a higher propulsion force that has been sterilized by a sterile filter. Further, the high-pressure air used for blow molding may be collected in the blow molding machine 12 and reused.

The hot air P supplied into the manifold 80b of the air nozzle 80 is ejected from the air outlet 80a and flows toward the preform 1 running under the air outlet 80a with the mouth 2a facing upward, and a part of the preform 1 Of the preform 1 and the other part flows along the outer surface of the preform 1.

By blowing the hot air P, the excess hydrogen peroxide attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 is removed from the preform 1 and the introduction of hydrogen peroxide into the next heating furnace 50 is prevented.

If the suction pipe 82 is arranged as shown in FIG. 7 or the nozzle 81 and the preform 1 are inverted as shown in FIG. 8, the foreign matter removal rate in the preform 1 is increased.

The hot air P may be supplied by the air nozzle 83 shown in FIG. This air nozzle 83 has the same structure as the bactericide supply nozzle shown in FIG. In FIG. 9, reference numerals 83a and 83b indicate a plurality of branched pipelines for sending the hot air P. Of the plurality of conduits 83a and 83b, the discharge port of one conduit 83a faces the opening of the mouth 2a of the preform 1. The hot air P blows from the discharge port of the conduit 83 a toward the preform 1 and flows into the preform 1. As a result, hydrogen peroxide attached to the inner surface of the preform 1 is activated and excess hydrogen peroxide is removed.

Reference numeral 84 indicates an umbrella-shaped member 84 that covers around the discharge port of the conduit 83a. An annular groove 84a having a substantially semicircular cross section is formed on the lower surface of the umbrella-shaped member 84. The hot air P that has entered the preform 1 from the discharge port of the pipe 83a overflows from the mouth 2a of the preform 1 after filling the preform 1, but the overflowing hot air P is an umbrella-shaped member. It is guided to the outer surface of the preform 1 by the lower surface of 84 and the annular groove 84 a, and flows along the outer surface of the preform 1. As a result, the hot air P discharged from the conduit 83a also contacts the outer surface of the preform 1.

Further, the other conduit 83 b is extended in a substantially U-shape so as to follow the outer surface of the preform 1, and the discharge port 85 thereof faces the outer surface of the preform 1. The hot air P is also blown toward the outer surface of the preform 1 from the discharge port 85 of the other duct 83 b of the air nozzle 83 and comes into contact with the outer surface of the preform 1. As a result, the hot air P from the conduit 83a and the hot air P overflowing from the mouth 2a of the preform 1 are combined and adhered to the outer surface of the preform 1, and the excess hydrogen peroxide attached to the outer surface of the preform 1 is attached. To remove.

As shown in FIG. 3, the wheels 15 and 16 are surrounded by a chamber 41a. An exhaust means including a filter 36 for filtering the air in the chamber 41a and a blower 37 is connected to the chamber 41a. As a result, the excess hydrogen peroxide discharged from the sterilizing agent supply nozzle 6 is removed by the filter 36 of the exhaust means and then discharged to the outside of the chamber 41a. Therefore, hydrogen peroxide can be prevented from flowing into the adjacent blow molding machine 12. It is desirable to adjust the amount of air supply/exhaust to/from the chamber 41a so that the pressure in the chamber 41a becomes a negative pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure.

The chamber 41a, the heating furnace 33, the chamber 41b, and the like may be placed in a clean room (not shown) to prevent entry of microorganisms and the like into the negatively-pressurized chamber 41a.

The endless chain 18 is arranged as a conveyance path for the preform 1 in the heating furnace 33 equipped with the infrared heater 18a described above. A large number of spindles 43 shown in FIG. 1C are attached to the endless chain 18 at a constant pitch. Each spindle 43 can rotate while traveling along with the traveling of the endless chain 18. As shown in FIG. 1C, a spindle 43 is inserted into the opening 2a of the preform 1 sent from the wheel 17 side to the endless chain 18 side, whereby the preform 1 is erected on the spindle 43. Held in. By using a mandrel instead of the spindle, it is possible to convey the preform 1 while supporting it in an inverted state as shown in FIG.

The heating furnace 33 has a furnace chamber extending in one direction. In the furnace chamber, the endless chain 18 is bridged between a pair of pulleys 34a and 34b arranged so as to face each other on a horizontal plane. The endless chain 18 and the like constitute an endless conveyor that conveys a large number of preforms 1 in a suspended state. An infrared heater 18a is attached to the inner wall surface of the furnace chamber along the forward path and the backward path of the endless chain 18.

When the preform 1 is received by the spindle 43 through the row of the preform conveyor 14 and the wheels 15, 16, and 17, the preform 1 runs while rotating along the inner wall surface of the heating furnace 33. An infrared heater 18a is stretched around the inner wall surface of the heating furnace 33, and the preform 1 conveyed by the spindle 43 is heated by the infrared heater 18a. The preform 1 rotates while the spindle 43 rotates while running in the heating furnace 33, is uniformly heated by the infrared heater 18a, and heats up to 90°C to 130°C which is a temperature suitable for blow molding except for the mouth 2a. .. The mouth portion 2a is suppressed to a temperature of 70° C. or lower at which the cap 3 is not deformed or the like so that the hermeticity when the cap 3 is covered is not impaired.

The blow molding machine 12 includes a plurality of sets of a mold 4 and a blow nozzle 5 (see FIG. 2D) for receiving the preform 1 heated by the infrared heater 18a of the preform feeder 11 and molding it into a bottle 2. ..

As shown in FIG. 3, in the blow molding machine 12, the second transfer path of the mold transfer means is passed. This second transport path is constituted by a row of wheels 19, 20, 21, 22.

A plurality of molds 4 and blow nozzles 5 are arranged around the wheel 20, and rotate around the wheel 20 at a constant speed as the wheel 20 rotates.

When the gripper (not shown) of the wheel 19 receives the preform 1 heated in the heating furnace 33 of the preform feeder 11 and transfers it to the mold 4 around the wheel 20, the half mold 4 is closed and the preform is closed. 1 is gripped as shown in FIG. The preform 1 in the mold 4 is swung around the wheel 20 together with the mold 4 and the blow nozzle 5 while being blown with high-pressure air from the blow nozzle 5 through a sterile filter for blow molding. It is molded into a finished product. Since the preform 1 is uniformly heated to a predetermined temperature in the heating furnace 33 as shown in FIG. 1C, it is smoothly blow-molded.

Further, as described above, the hydrogen peroxide attached to each preform 1 is removed from the preform 1 by blowing the hot air P before entering the heating furnace 33. Therefore, damage to various devices such as the seal member in the blow molding machine 12 due to hydrogen peroxide is prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of molding defects such as whitening, distortion, and molding unevenness of the bottle due to the adhesion of hydrogen peroxide.

When the preform 1 comes into close contact with the cavity C of the mold 4 to form the bottle 2, the mold 4 opens when it comes into contact with the wheel 21, and is received by a gripper (not shown) of the wheel 21.

The bottle 2 that has come out of the blow molding machine 12 and reaches the wheel 21 is inspected for molding defects and the like by an inspection device 35 arranged on the outer periphery of the wheel 21. Although not shown, the inspection device 35 may include, for example, a light source and a camera that inspect whether or not the top surface of the mouth 2a of the molded bottle 2 is smooth.

If the bottle 2 that has been inspected is rejected, it is removed from the transport path by a rejecting device (not shown), and only the acceptable product is transported to the wheel 22.

The filling machine 13 has therein a third transfer path of the bottle transfer means. This third transport path has a row of wheels 23, 24, 25, 26, 27.

A filler 39 is configured by providing a large number of filling nozzles 10 for filling the aseptic bottle 2 with the beverage a on the outer periphery of the wheel 24, and a bottle filled with the beverage a is provided around the wheel 26. A capper 40 for attaching a cap 3 (see FIG. 2(G)) to 2 and sealing is constructed.

Since the filler 39 and the capper 40 may be the same as those of a known device, the description thereof will be omitted.

The periphery of the wheel 22 is surrounded by the chamber 41c. The chamber 41c functions as an atmosphere blocking chamber that blocks the atmosphere between the chamber 41b and the chamber 41d. The chamber 41c is also connected to an exhaust means similar to the exhaust means including the filter 36 and the blower 37 connected to the chamber 41a shown in FIG. 3, and the inside air of the chamber 41c is exhausted to the outside. As a result, the gas or mist of the sterilizing agent or the cleaning agent generated in the chamber 41d of the filling machine 13 by performing, for example, COP (cleaning out of place) inside the chamber 41d is discharged to the outside of the chamber 41c. It can be prevented from flowing into the chamber 41b of the blow molding machine 12.

Next, the operation of the beverage filling device will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the preform 1 is conveyed toward the heating furnace 33 by the row of the preform conveyor 14 and the wheels 15, 16 and 17.

When the preform 1 travels around the wheel 15 before entering the heating furnace 33, the hydrogen peroxide gas G or mist or a mixture thereof is supplied from the sterilizing agent supply nozzle 6 toward the preform 1.

Part of the hydrogen peroxide supplied from the germicide supply nozzle 6 is adsorbed on the preform 1, and the rest remains on the surface of the preform 1 as an excess.

Subsequently, when the preform 1 having the hydrogen peroxide attached thereto travels around the wheel 16, the hot air P is blown onto the preform 1 from the air nozzle 80. By blowing the hot air P, the surplus residual hydrogen peroxide on the surface of the preform 1 is removed from the surface of the preform 1.

As shown in FIG. 7, the hot air P can be blown by the air nozzle 81 to blow the foreign matter in the preform 1 to the outside of the preform 1 and collect the blown foreign matter by the suction pipe 82. .. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, foreign matters in the preform 1 can be easily removed to the outside of the preform 1 by reversing the air nozzle 81 and the preform 1 from those shown in FIG. Is.

Then, the preform 1 is received by the spindle 43 on the endless chain 18 and conveyed into the heating furnace 33.

In the heating furnace 33, the preform 1 is heated by the infrared heater 18a, and the entire temperature of the preform 1 except the mouth 2a is uniformly heated to a temperature range suitable for blow molding.

By this heating, the hydrogen peroxide adsorbed on the preform 1 is activated and the microorganisms attached to the preform 1 are sterilized.

The preform 1 which has been heated to the molding temperature in the heating furnace 33 and sterilized at the same time is held by the mold 4 as shown in FIG. When the air is blown, the bottle 2 is expanded to the finished product in the cavity C.

The molded bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4 by the gripper of the wheel 21 after the mold 4 is opened, and is inspected by the inspection device 35 for the presence or absence of molding defects.

After that, the defective bottles are removed from the row by a discharge device (not shown), and only the good bottles 2 are passed through the rows of the wheels 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and run in the filling machine 13. To do.

The bottle 2 in the filling machine 13 is filled with the sterilized beverage a by the filling nozzle 10 of the filler 39 as shown in FIG. The bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is capped by the capper 40 and sealed (see FIG. 2G), and is discharged from the outlet of the chamber 41d.

Since the filler 39 and the capper 40 are known devices as described above, description of the method of filling the bottle 2 with the beverage and the method of sealing the bottle 2 is omitted.

The inside of the chamber 41d of the aseptic filling machine 13 is sterilized by spraying hydrogen peroxide gas or a peracetic acid solution (SOP) before producing the package. Then, after sterilization, the air inside the chamber 41d is maintained at a positive pressure by supplying air through a sterile filter. As a result, the air or the like in the chamber 41d tries to flow toward the blow molding machine 12 side, but since the atmosphere blocking chamber 41c is interposed between the two chambers 41b and 41d and is exhausted from here, the chamber 41d is evacuated. Highly humid air in the filling area is properly blocked from flowing into the molding area in the chamber 41b.

In addition, in order to sterilize the bottle 2, it is also possible to provide the sterilizing agent supply nozzle 6 for sterilizing the preform 1 and the same device as the air nozzle 80 at the wheels 22, 23. In this case, since the sterilizing agent is exhausted from the atmosphere blocking chamber 41c by the exhausting means in the atmosphere blocking chamber 41c, the flow of the sterilizing agent to the blow molding machine 12 side is blocked.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, instead of the steps shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the steps shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B are adopted.

As shown in FIG. 10(A), first, a drop Q of an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, which is a bactericide, is dropped into the preform 1 through its mouth 2a. The amount of the drop Q is within the range of the saturated amount of hydrogen peroxide adsorbed in one preform 1.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10(B), a large number of preforms 1 to which the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution has been dropped are placed in a container 86 and sealed. Specifically, a sealed bag 87 is put in a container 86 having a waist, a large number of preforms 1 are put in the sealed bag 87, then the sealed bag 87 is sealed, and a lid 86 a is put on the container 86. .. Aging is performed within this container for a predetermined period, and the hydrogen peroxide supplied into the preform is adsorbed by the preform 1.

The place for aging is not limited to the inside of the sealed bag 87 as long as it is inside the sealed bag.

After aging, the sealed bag 87 is opened, the preform 1 is taken out from the sealed bag 87, and heated to the blow molding temperature as shown in FIG. 1(C). Thereafter, a package is obtained through the steps of FIG. 1(D) to FIG. 2(G).

<Third Embodiment>
Also according to the third embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, an aseptic package including the bottle 2 and the cap 3 as shown in FIG. 14(K) can be manufactured.

As shown in FIGS. 11(A) to 14(K), the bottle 2 is sterilized, molded, filled with a beverage, and sealed to be an aseptic package.

First, the preform 1 shown in FIG. 11A is continuously conveyed at a desired speed, and the sterilant gas G or mist or a mixture thereof is supplied to the running preform 1.

Preform 1 has the same structure as in the first embodiment.

Further, the sterilizing agent is also supplied in the same manner as in the case of the first embodiment, and the hydrogen peroxide gas G, the mist, or a mixture thereof, which is the sterilizing agent, contacts and adheres to the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1.

Part of the hydrogen peroxide adhering to the surface of the preform 1 is adsorbed by the preform 1, and the remaining part remains as an excess on the surface of the preform 1.

The preform may be preheated by blowing hot air onto the preform 1 immediately before blowing the gas G onto the preform 1 shown in FIG.

The preform 1 to which hydrogen peroxide has been supplied is supplied with hot air P by an air nozzle 80, as shown in FIG. The hot air P can be supplied in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

By blowing the hot air P, the excess hydrogen peroxide remaining on the surface of the preform 1 is quickly removed from the surface of the preform 1.

As shown in FIG. 11C, the sterilized preform 1 is heated by the infrared heater 18a and other heating means to a temperature suitable for later blow molding. This temperature is about 90°C to 130°C. The mouth 2a of the preform 1 is prevented from transmitting heat from the infrared heater 18a in order to prevent deformation and the like.

As shown in FIG. 11C, when the preform 1 is heated, the preform 1 is supported by the spindle 43.

As shown in FIG. 16, an umbrella-shaped member 43a is attached to the outside of the spindle 43 as needed. A plurality of ball-shaped elastic bodies 43b are embedded in the lower portion of the spindle 43.

The preform 1 is supported by the spindle 43 by the elastic deformation of the elastic body 43b when the lower part of the spindle 43 is inserted into the opening 2a. When the umbrella-shaped member 43a is provided, the mouth 2a of the preform 1 is simultaneously covered with the umbrella-shaped member 43a.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the umbrella-shaped member 43a is provided, the outer surface of the mouth 2a of the preform 1 and the umbrella-shaped member 43a are interposed between the inner surface of the mouth 2a of the preform 1 and the lower portion of the spindle 43. Since a gap is formed in the gap, the air in the preform 1 heated by the heat from the infrared heater 18a becomes hot air and flows through the gap from the inside of the preform 1 to the outside of the preform 1, Then, the mouth portion 2a of the preform 1 is heated.

The mouth 2a of the preform 1 must be designed so as not to be deformed by the heat applied at the stage of the preform 1 so that the sealing property of the bottle 2 is not impaired when the bottle 2 is subsequently sealed by the cap 3 in the state of the bottle 2. It doesn't happen.

The hot air flowing through the gap heats the mouth portion 2a, but heats only up to a temperature of about 70° C. or lower at which the mouth portion 2a is not deformed. Such heating of the mouth 2a activates a small amount of hydrogen peroxide remaining in the preform 1, and the mouth 2a is appropriately sterilized.

At the time of the heating, the preform 1 is hung in an upright state by inserting the spindle 43 into the opening 2a, and is preferably conveyed while rotating around the axis together with the spindle 43. As a result, the preform 1 is heated uniformly from about 90° C. to about 130° C. by the infrared heater 18a except for the mouth 2a.

The preform 1 can also be conveyed in an inverted state.

By heating the preform 1 with the infrared heater 18a, the hydrogen peroxide adsorbed on the preform 1 is activated and the microorganisms attached to the preform 1 are sterilized.

As shown in FIG. 12(D), the heated preform 1 is released from the spindle 43 and is blown with aseptic air Q from the side of the mouth 2a, while the metal mold is the blow molding die shown in FIG. 12(E). It is conveyed to the mold 4. By spraying the aseptic air Q, the preform 1 is supplied to the mold 4 while maintaining the sterility.

The sterile air Q may be hot air. The temperature drop of the preform 1 is prevented by blowing hot air.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12(D), at a position where the preform 1 is heated and the preform 1 is directed to the mold 4, a cover 96 is formed in a tunnel shape so as to surround the running path of the preform 1. It is provided. The ceiling portion of the tunnel-shaped cover 96 that covers the mouth 2a of the preform 1 from above is formed in a roof shape having an inclined surface. In addition, nozzles 96a for blowing the sterile air Q toward the mouth 2a of the preform 1 are provided in the ceiling portion in a row of pipes or in a slit shape. As a result, the sterile air Q is efficiently supplied to the preform 1, and the preform 1 runs inside the chamber 41b while maintaining the sterility.

The preform 1 that is transported while maintaining the sterility by spraying the aseptic air Q is housed in the mold 4 as shown in FIG. 12(E).

The mold 4 is in the mold clamping state while continuously traveling at the same speed as the traveling speed of the preform 1, and is in the mold open state after the blow molding of the preform 1 is performed in the mold 4. ..

As described above, the preform 1 is uniformly heated to a temperature range suitable for molding in the heating step shown in FIG. 11C, except for the mouth portion 2a. Therefore, the preform 1 is shown in FIG. 12E. As described above, when the stretched rod 5 is inserted into the preform 1 after the heated preform 1 is mounted in the mold 4, the preform 1 is stretched in the mold 4 in the longitudinal direction thereof. Be done.

Subsequently, for example, aseptic air for primary blow and aseptic air for secondary blow are sequentially blown into the preform 1 from a blow nozzle (not shown), so that the preform 1 is molded into the bottle 2 in the cavity C of the mold 4. Expands to.

When the bottle 2 is molded in the mold 4 in this way, the mold 4 continues to run and the mold is opened, and the finished product of the bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4.

After the bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4, as shown in FIG. 12(F), aseptic air Q is supplied through the nozzle 97a until the hydrogen peroxide supply step shown in FIG. 13(G) is reached. It is conveyed while being sprayed from the mouth 2a side. By spraying this sterile air Q, the bottle 2 is sent to the position right below the hydrogen peroxide supply nozzle 93 with the least possible contamination with microorganisms.

Aseptic air Q shown in FIG. 12(F) is preferably hot air. By blowing hot air, the temperature of the bottle 2 is prevented from lowering, so that the subsequent sterilizing effect of hydrogen peroxide is improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12(F), at a position where the bottle 2 is moving to the next hydrogen peroxide supply nozzle 93 (see FIG. 13(G)), the traveling path of the bottle 2 is surrounded. The cover 97 is provided in a tunnel shape. A ceiling portion of the tunnel-shaped cover 97 that covers the mouth 2a of the bottle 2 from above is formed in a roof shape having an inclined surface. Further, nozzles 97a for blowing the sterile air Q toward the mouth portion 2a of the bottle 2 or toward the traveling path are provided in the ceiling portion in a row of pipes or in a slit shape. As a result, the sterile air Q is efficiently supplied to the bottle 2, and the bottle 2 runs in the chambers 41b and 41c1 while maintaining the sterility.

The bottle 2 sprayed with the aseptic air Q is sterilized by supplying hydrogen peroxide, which is a sterilizing agent, as shown in FIG.

Specifically, the mist M of hydrogen peroxide, the gas G, or a mixture thereof is sprayed from the sterilizing nozzle 93 onto the bottle 2 being conveyed. The sterilizing nozzle 93 is arranged so as to face the mouth portion 2a of the bottle 2. The mist M of hydrogen peroxide, the gas G, or a mixture thereof flows down from the tip of the sterilizing nozzle 93, enters the bottle 2 through the mouth 2a of the bottle, and contacts the inner surface of the bottle 2.

In addition, a tunnel 44 is formed at the traveling position of the bottle 2, and the mist M of hydrogen peroxide or the gas G or a mixture thereof discharged from the sterilizing nozzle 93 flows down along the outer surface of the bottle 2, and the tunnel 44 is further formed. Since it stays inside, it effectively adheres to the outer surface of the bottle 2.

The mist M of hydrogen peroxide or the gas G can be generated by the mist generator 7 shown in FIG. 4, for example.

The sterilizing nozzle 93 may be installed at a fixed position on the transport path of the bottle 2 or may be moved in synchronization with the bottle 2.

As shown in FIG. 13(G), the mist M of hydrogen peroxide or the gas G or a mixture thereof blown out from the sterilization nozzle 93 comes into contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2, and at that time, the bottle 2 has the preform 1 described above. Since the heat applied in the step (2) and the heat applied to the bottle 2 in the step of FIG. 12(F) are retained at the predetermined temperature, the sterilization is efficiently performed.

When the preform 1 is made of PET, the predetermined temperature is preferably 40°C to 80°C, more preferably 50°C to 75°C. When it is lower than 40°C, the bactericidal property is remarkably reduced. If the temperature is higher than 80°C, the bottle will shrink after molding.

After spraying the mist M of hydrogen peroxide, the gas G, or a mixture thereof, the bottle 2 is subjected to air rinsing, as shown in FIG. 13(H1). Air rinsing is performed by blowing sterile air N into the bottle 2 from the nozzle 45, and foreign substances, hydrogen peroxide, etc. are removed from the bottle 2 by the flow of the sterile air N. At that time, the bottle 2 is placed in an upright state.

Desirably, the umbrella 45 similar to that shown in FIG. 9 is attached to the nozzle 45. By the guiding action of the umbrella-shaped member 30, the sterile air N overflows from the inside of the bottle 2 and then heads to the outer surface of the bottle 2 to air rinse the outer surface of the bottle 2.

The air rinse step shown in FIG. 13(H2) may be adopted instead of the air rinse step shown in FIG. 13(H1). By adopting the step of FIG. 13 (H2), the bottle 2 is turned upside down and the sterile air N is blown into the bottle 2 from the downward facing mouth portion 2a. It can be dropped from the bottle 2a to the outside of the bottle 2. Alternatively, the air rinsing step of FIG. 13(H1) may be followed by the step of FIG. 13(H2) without blowing the sterile air N. Further, the umbrella-shaped member 84 may be attached to the nozzle 45 shown in FIG. 13(H2).

After air rinsing, as shown in FIG. 14(I), as necessary, the hydrogen peroxide adhering to the bottle 2 is washed away, and aseptic room temperature water or hot water at 15° C. to 85° C. is used to remove foreign matter. A sterile water rinse is performed. The flow rate per nozzle is preferably 5 L/min to 15 L/min, and the cleaning rinse time is preferably 0.2 to 10 seconds.

As described above, since the bottle 2 is further sterilized with hydrogen peroxide after sterilizing at the stage of the preform 1, the amount of hydrogen peroxide used can be small. Therefore, the hot water rinsing step shown in FIG. 14(I) in which the hydrogen peroxide attached to the bottle 2 is washed away with water such as hot water after the air rinsing is unnecessary. However, there is no problem in performing sterile water rinsing as needed.

The mist M or gas G of hydrogen peroxide used in the step of FIG. 13G is as follows.

When the amount of hydrogen peroxide used is converted to the amount of mist M, in order to sterilize the bottle 2 by performing only the step of FIG. 13(G), the amount of the bottle 2 is 50 μL/500 mL bottle to 100 μL/500 mL bottle. However, when the preform 1 was sterilized as in the present invention, hydrogen peroxide mist M in an amount of 10 μL/500 mL bottle to 50 μL/500 mL bottle should be attached. Now commercial aseptic filling is possible.

Further, when the amount of hydrogen peroxide used is converted to the amount of gas G, in order to sterilize the bottle 2 by performing only the step of FIG. 13(G), the gas concentration is 5 mg/L to 10 mg/L. It was necessary to blow the hydrogen oxide gas G onto the bottle 2, but when pre-sterilization involving pre-heating of the preform 1 was performed as in the present invention, hydrogen peroxide having a gas concentration of 1 mg/L to 5 mg/L was used. Spraying gas G enabled commercial aseptic filling.

After the air rinse, as shown in FIG. 14(J), the beverage a is filled into the bottle 2 from the filling nozzle 10, and as shown in FIG. 14(K), it is sealed by the cap 3 which is a lid. The bottle 2 is an aseptic package.

In this Embodiment 2, the bottle sterilization step corresponding to FIGS. 13(G), (H1), and (H2) is omitted, and after the beverage a itself, which is the content, is sterilized, it is stored at room temperature under a sterile environment. It is also possible to fill with.

It is also possible to omit the sterilization step of the bottle and fill the beverage a at a medium temperature of about 70°C. When filling at medium temperature, survival of spore-forming bacteria in the beverage a and the bottle 2 is allowed, but mold, yeast, etc. are sterilized by the heat of the beverage a, and the PET bottle 2 is transformed. Don't come Therefore, the medium temperature filling is suitable when the drink a is an acidic drink or mineral water having a property of suppressing the germination of spore bacteria.

An aseptic filling device for carrying out the method for sterilizing the bottle 2 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15, the aseptic filling device includes a preform feeder 11 that sequentially supplies bottomed cylindrical preforms 1 having a mouth 2a (see FIG. 11A) at predetermined intervals, and blow molding. Machine 12, a sterilizer 88 for sterilizing the molded bottle 2, and a filling machine 13 for filling the bottle 2 (see FIG. 12(F)) with the beverage a and sealing it with the cap 3 (see FIG. 14(K)). With.

This aseptic filling device is surrounded by chambers 41a, 41b, 41c1, 41c2, 41d, 41e, 41f at a position from the blow molding machine 12 to the filling machine 13.

The chamber 41a corresponds to a portion for supplying a sterilizing agent to the preform, the chamber 41b corresponds to a portion for molding the bottle 2, the chamber 41c1 corresponds to a portion for transporting the bottle to the sterilizer 88, and the chamber 41c2 is a bottle. 2 corresponds to the location where the sterilizing agent is supplied and rinsed, and the chamber 41d corresponds to the location where the bottle 2 is filled with the beverage a, which is the content, and sealed.

The part from the chamber 41b to the chamber 41c1 is maintained as a clean room. In order to provide a clean room, aseptic positive pressure air that has passed through a HEPA filter is supplied into the chambers 41b to 41c1 before the production of the aseptic package. Thereby, the inside of the chambers 41b to 41c1 is maintained in a clean state, and it becomes possible to manufacture a bottle having a high sterility level.

Before blowing aseptic positive pressure air into the chambers 41b to 41c1, the chambers 41b to 41c1 may be gas-sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas of 10 mg/L or less. Further, a site where the preform 1 and the bottle 2 come into contact with each other may be irradiated with a UV lamp (ultraviolet ray sterilization). Alternatively, the parts such as the mold 4, the drawing rod 5, and the gripper 32 that come into contact with the material may be wiped with a chemical containing 1% by mass of ethanol or hydrogen peroxide.

Between the preform supply machine 11 and the filling machine 13, a preform carrying means for carrying the preform 1 on the first carrying path, and a mold 4 having a cavity C in the shape of a finished product of the bottle 2 (see FIG. 2(D)), and a mold conveying unit for conveying the second mold on the second conveyer path connected to the first conveyer path, and the bottle 2 molded by the mold 4 to the second conveyer path. And a bottle conveying means for sterilizing and filling the bottle 2 while being conveyed on the third conveying path connected to.

The first transfer path of the preform transfer means, the second transfer path of the mold transfer means, and the third transfer path of the bottle transfer means communicate with each other, and the preform 1 is placed on these transfer paths. An unillustrated gripper or the like for holding and transporting the bottle 2 is provided.

The preform conveying means is provided with a preform conveyor 14 which sequentially supplies the preforms 1 at predetermined intervals on the first conveying path. Further, it is provided with a row of wheels 15, 16 and 17 that receives and conveys the preform 1 from the end of the preform conveyor 14, and an endless chain 18 that receives and runs the preform 1.

At a fixed position on the running path of the preform 1 on the wheel 15, the germicide gas generator 7 as shown in FIG. 4 for generating the hydrogen peroxide gas G and the hydrogen peroxide gas G are directed toward the preform 1. Disinfectant supply nozzle 6 as shown in FIG. 11(A) for discharging is arranged.

Hot air P is discharged toward the preform 1 on the running path of the preform 1 on the wheel 16 to activate the hydrogen peroxide adhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 and to discharge the hydrogen peroxide to the outside of the preform 1. The air nozzle 80 (see FIG. 11B) is arranged.

As the air nozzle 80, the same one as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B or 9 in the first embodiment can be used.

As shown in FIG. 15, the wheels 15 and 16 are surrounded by a chamber 41a. Similar to that shown in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment, the chamber 41a is connected to an exhaust means including a blower 37 and a filter 36 for decomposing a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide in the air in the chamber 41a. It As a result, hydrogen peroxide can be prevented from flowing into the adjacent blow molding machine 12. A heating furnace 33 for heating the preform 1 to a molding temperature is provided in the first conveying path from a wheel 17 in contact with the wheel 16 to a wheel 19 in contact with the second conveying path. The heating furnace 33 has the same structure as that in the first embodiment.

The preform 1 is uniformly heated while running in the heating furnace 33, and the temperature of the preform 1 is raised to 90° C. to 130° C., which is a temperature suitable for blow molding, except for the mouth 2a. The mouth portion 2a is suppressed to a temperature of 70° C. or lower at which the cap 3 is not deformed or the like so that the hermeticity when the cap 3 is covered is not impaired.

A blow molding machine 12 is arranged around the second transport path. The blow molding machine 12 has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment, and receives the preform 1 heated in the heating furnace 33 and molds it into the bottle 2.

Above the wheel 19 located between the first conveying path of the preform conveying means and the second conveying path of the mold conveying means, the preform 1 traveling around the wheel 19 is provided. A cover 96 (see FIG. 12D) that covers the mouth 2a from above is provided in the tunnel. Aseptic air Q is blown into the cover 96 toward the mouth 2a of the preform 1. This aseptic air Q may be partly separated from the aseptic air P supplied from the aseptic air supply device shown in FIG. 5B in the first embodiment.

As a result, the preform 1 is surrounded by the chamber 41b forming a clean room and is further covered by the cover 96 containing the sterile air Q, and the preform 1 is headed for the blow molding machine 12 while maintaining high sterility. ..

The mold 4 in the blow molding machine 12 opens when it comes into contact with the wheel 21 that is the starting end of the third conveyance path, and is received by a gripper (not shown) of the wheel 21.

The bottle 2 that has come out of the blow molding machine 12 and reaches the wheel 21 is inspected for a molding defect or the like by an inspection device 35 that is arranged on the outer periphery of the wheel 21 as necessary. As the inspection device 35, the same device as that used in the first embodiment can be used.

If the bottle 2 that has been inspected is rejected, it is removed from the transport path by a rejecting device (not shown), and only the acceptable product is transported to the wheel 22.

A cover 97 (see FIG. 12(F)) that covers the bottle 2 from above the mouth 2a forms a tunnel above the traveling path of the bottle 2 on the wheels 21, 22, 89 in the third transport path. It is provided. The aseptic air Q blown into the cover 97 may be a part of the aseptic air P supplied from the aseptic air supply device shown in FIG. 5B in the first embodiment.

In the row of wheels 90, 91, 92, and 23 following the wheel 89 in the third transport path, the germicide supply nozzle 93 (see FIG. 13G) and the sterile air supply nozzle 45 (FIG. 13 (H1)). Or (see (H2)).

Specifically, a plurality of disinfectant supply nozzles 93 (four in FIG. 15) are installed at fixed positions on the traveling path of the bottle 2 around the wheel 90. A tunnel 44 (see FIG. 13G) through which the bottle 2 passes is also installed corresponding to the germicide supply nozzle 93. The mist M of hydrogen peroxide water or the gas G or a mixture thereof blown out from the germicide supply nozzle 93 enters the inside of the bottle 2 and adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 2 as a thin film, and along the outer surface of the bottle 2. As it flows, it fills the tunnel 44 and adheres to the outer surface of the bottle 2 as a thin film.

One or a plurality of sterile air supply nozzles 45 are installed at a fixed position on the traveling path of the bottle 2 around the wheel 92. The aseptic air N blown out from the aseptic air supply nozzle 45 comes into contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2 to remove the excess hydrogen peroxide solution film adhering to the surface of the bottle 2. When the sterile air N is hot air, the hydrogen peroxide attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2 is activated to enhance the sterilizing effect.

A large number of germicide supply nozzles 93 and sterile air supply nozzles 45 are arranged around each wheel 90, 92 at the same pitch as that of the bottle 2, and the bottles are rotated in synchronization with each wheel 90, 92. Alternatively, hydrogen peroxide gas G or sterile air N may be blown into the inside of the chamber 2.

A filler 39 and a capper 40 are provided in the third conveying path from the wheel 24 in contact with the wheel 23 to the wheel 27.

Specifically, the filler 39 is configured by providing a large number of filling nozzles 10 (see FIG. 14(J)) for filling the bottle 2 with the beverage a around the wheel 24, and around the wheel 26. A capper 40 for attaching and sealing the cap 3 (see FIG. 14(K)) to the bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is configured.

The filler 39 and the capper 40 are configured similarly to those in the first embodiment.

In the first to third transport paths, the circumference of the wheel 15 is surrounded by the chamber 41a. The periphery of the portion from the wheel 16 to the wheel 21 is surrounded by the chamber 41b. The periphery of the wheel 22 and the wheel 89 is surrounded by the chamber 41c1. The periphery of the portion from the wheel 90 to the wheel 23 is surrounded by the chamber 41c2. The periphery of the portion from the wheel 24 to the wheel 27 is surrounded by the chamber 41d.

Aseptic air purified by a not-shown HEPA filter or the like is constantly supplied to the inside of the chamber 41b. As a result, the chamber 41b is made into a clean room and the invasion of microorganisms into the interior thereof is blocked.

The inside of each of the chambers 41a, 41b, 41c2, 41d, 41e, 41f is sterilized by performing, for example, COP (cleaning outside of place) and SOP (sterilizing outside of place), and then these chambers 41a, 41b, 41c2, 41d, 41e, 41f or the gas of the cleaning agent from each chamber 41a, 41b, 41c2, 41d, 41e, 41f by the exhaust means similar to that shown in FIG. The mist is discharged outside the chamber. Then, aseptic air purified by a scrubber, a filter, etc. (not shown) is supplied into each of these chambers 41a, 41b, 41c2, 41d, 41e, so that aseptic inside each of the chambers 41a, 41b, 41c2, 41d, 41f. Sex is maintained. COP and SOP are always carried out for the chambers 41d, 41e and 41f, but they are not necessarily carried out for the chambers 41a, 41b and 41c2.

Further, the chamber 41c1 functions as an atmosphere blocking chamber that blocks the atmosphere between the chamber 41b and the chamber 41c2. An exhaust means similar to the exhaust means is connected to the chamber 41c1 so that the inside air of the chamber 41c1 is exhausted to the outside. As a result, the cleaning agent gas or the like generated by the COP and SOP in the chamber 41d and the sterilizer mist generated in the chamber 41c2 are prevented from flowing into the chamber 41b of the blow molding machine 12 through the chamber 41c1. Can be stopped.

Next, the operation of the beverage filling device will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the preform 1 is conveyed toward the heating furnace 33 by the row of the preform conveyor 14 and the wheels 15, 16 and 17.

When the preform 1 travels around the wheel 15 before entering the heating furnace 33, the hydrogen peroxide gas G or mist or a mixture thereof is supplied from the sterilizing agent supply nozzle 6 toward the preform 1.

Subsequently, when the preform 1 having the hydrogen peroxide attached thereto travels around the wheel 16, the hot air P is blown onto the preform 1 from the air nozzle 80. The heat of the hot air P activates the hydrogen peroxide attached to the preform 1 and kills the microorganisms attached to the preform 1. Further, excess hydrogen peroxide is removed from the surface of the preform 1 by the hot air P.

It is also possible to blow the hot air P by the air nozzle 81 shown in FIG. 7 to blow the foreign matter in the preform 1 to the outside of the preform 1 and to collect the blown foreign matter by the suction pipe 82. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, by making the air nozzle 81 and the preform 1 reverse to those shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to remove the foreign matter in the preform 1 to the outside of the preform 1. ..

Then, the preform 1 is received by the spindle 43 (see FIG. 11C) on the endless chain 18 and conveyed into the heating furnace 33.

In the heating furnace 33, the preform 1 is heated by the infrared heater 18a, and the entire temperature of the preform 1 except the mouth 2a is uniformly heated to a temperature range suitable for blow molding.

The preform 1 heated to the molding temperature in the heating furnace 33 is blown with aseptic air Q while passing under the cover 96 when traveling around the wheel 19. As a result, the preform 1 is conveyed to the blow molding machine 12 while maintaining its sterility. When the sterile air Q is hot air, the preform 1 reaches the blow molding machine 12 while maintaining the temperature suitable for molding appropriately.

When the preform 1 passes through the outer periphery of the wheel 20, it is held by a mold 4 as shown in FIG. 12(E) and blown with aseptic high-pressure air to expand into a finished product of a bottle 2 in a cavity C. To do.

The molded bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4 by the gripper of the wheel 21 after the mold 4 is opened, and is inspected by the inspection device 35 for the presence or absence of molding defects.

The defective bottles 2 are removed from the row by a discharge device (not shown), and only the defective bottles 2 are transferred to the wheel 22 and conveyed to the sterilizer 88.

As the bottle 2 travels from the wheel 21 to the wheel 89, the sterile air Q is blown while passing under the cover 97. As a result, the bottle 2 is transported to the sterilizer 88 while maintaining its sterility. When the sterile air Q is hot air, the bottle 2 reaches the sterilizer 88 while maintaining a temperature suitable for sterilization.

While running around the wheel 90 in the sterilizer 88, the bottle 2 is sterilized by being sprayed with a mist M of hydrogen peroxide water, a gas G, or a mixture thereof, as shown in FIG. 13(G). While traveling around the wheel 92, aseptic air N is sprayed and rinsed as shown in FIG. 13 (H1) or (H2).

After that, the bottle 2 reaches the filling machine 13.

In the filling machine 13, the bottle 2 is filled with the beverage a that has been sterilized in advance by the filling nozzle 10 of the filler 39 as shown in FIG. The bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is sealed with the cap 3 by the capper 40 (see FIG. 14(K)), and discharged from the aseptic filling device through the outlet of the chamber 41d.
<Embodiment 4>
In the fourth embodiment, in the step of supplying the sterilizing agent to the preform 1 shown in FIG. 11(A) in the third embodiment, the sterilizing agent supplying nozzle 6 is replaced with the sterilizing agent supplying nozzle shown in FIG. 94 is used.

As shown in FIG. 17, the disinfectant supply nozzle 94 is provided with a pipe line 94a extending in a substantially U-shape so as to follow the outer surface of the preform 1. The pipe line 94a is provided on the outer surface of the preform 1. A discharge port 95 facing each other is provided. The discharge ports 95 are provided at a plurality of locations so as to face the location below the mouth 2a of the preform 1 so that hydrogen peroxide, which is a sterilizing agent, does not enter the preform 1.

A hydrogen peroxide gas G generated by a generator similar to the sterilizer gas generator 7 used in the second embodiment blows from the outlet 95 of the sterilizer supply nozzle 94 toward the outer surface of the preform 1, The gas G or mist or a mixture thereof is sprayed onto the outer surface of the preform 1 excluding the mouth 2a. The hydrogen peroxide gas G and the like adhere to the outer surface of the preform 1 without entering the preform 1. Thereby, the microorganisms existing on the outer surface of the preform 1 are sterilized.

Note that dew condensation may be prevented in these pipes by supplying hot air, which is sterile air, to the pipe line 94a of the germicide supply nozzle 94.

Further, by winding a ribbon heater around the conduit 94a, condensation of hydrogen peroxide solution in the conduit 94a may be prevented.

In the fourth embodiment, the preform 1 that has been subjected to the step of supplying the sterilizing agent to the preform 1 shown in FIG. 11(A) has the steps of FIG. It is subjected to the warm water rinsing step shown in I). Although the excess hydrogen peroxide is removed from the outer surface of the preform 1 by the step of FIG. 11B, this step may be omitted depending on circumstances. The steps shown in FIGS. 13(G), (H1), and (H2) are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 14(I), in the warm water rinsing step, the bottle 2 is placed in an inverted state with the mouth 2a facing downward, and is sterilized by the hot water rinse nozzle 46 inserted into the bottle 2 through the mouth 2a. Hot water H is supplied into the bottle 2. The hot water H is evenly contacted with the inner surface of the bottle 2 and then discharged from the mouth 2a to the outside of the bottle 2. The temperature of the hot water H is maintained in a range where the bottle 2 is not deformed, and is about 70°C to 85°C. The flow rate per nozzle is preferably 5 L/min to 15 L/min, and the cleaning rinse time is preferably 0.2 to 10 seconds.

By heating the hot water rinse, the microorganisms in the bottle 2 are sterilized. Microorganisms to be sterilized are mold, yeast, etc., and spore-forming bacteria can survive.

Therefore, the method of this Embodiment 3 is suitable for the production of beverages such as acidic beverages other than low-acidic beverages, carbonated beverages, mineral water that do not require sterilization of spore-forming bacteria.

After rinsing with warm water, the bottle 2 is filled with the beverage a as shown in FIG. 14(J), the cap 3 is put on as shown in FIG. 14(K), and the bottle 2 is sealed.

In the fourth embodiment, the bottle 2 is sterilized by omitting the warm water rinsing step of the bottle 2 (FIG. 14(I)) and filling the bottle with the beverage a at a medium temperature of about 70° C. instead. It is also possible to process. When filling at medium temperature, survival of spore-forming bacteria in the beverage a and the bottle 2 is allowed, but mold, yeast, etc. are sterilized by the heat of the beverage a, and the PET bottle 2 is transformed. Don't come Therefore, the medium temperature filling is suitable when the drink a is an acidic drink or mineral water having a property of suppressing the germination of spore bacteria.

<Embodiment 5>
Also according to the fifth embodiment, an aseptic package including the bottle 2 and the cap 3 as shown in FIG. 14(K) can be manufactured.

The bottle 2 has the steps of sterilization, molding, beverage filling and sealing shown in FIGS. 11(A)(B)(C), 12(D)(E), 18 and 14(J)(K). After that, a sterile package is obtained.

First, the preform 1 shown in FIG. 11(A) is continuously conveyed at a desired speed, and the gas G or mist of hydrogen peroxide solution which is a bactericide or a mixture thereof is fed to the running preform 1. Supplied.

The preform may be preheated by blowing hot air onto the preform 1 immediately before blowing the gas G onto the preform 1 shown in FIG.

The preform 1 to which hydrogen peroxide has been supplied is supplied with hot air P by an air nozzle 80, as shown in FIG.

By blowing the hot air P, the hydrogen peroxide attached to the surface of the preform 1 is activated by the heat of the hot air P, whereby the microorganisms in the preform 1 are sterilized. Further, the hydrogen peroxide attached to the preform 1 by the blowing of the hot air P is promptly removed from the surface of the preform 1.

As shown in FIG. 11C, the sterilized preform 1 is heated by the infrared heater 18a and other heating means to a temperature suitable for later blow molding.

As shown in FIG. 12(D), the heated preform 1 is released from the spindle 43 and is blown with aseptic air Q from the side of the mouth 2a, while the metal mold is the blow molding die shown in FIG. 12(E). It is conveyed to the mold 4. By spraying the aseptic air Q, the preform 1 is supplied to the mold 4 while maintaining the sterility.

As shown in FIG. 12(E), the preform 1 that is transported while maintaining the sterility by spraying the aseptic air Q is housed in the mold 4 and molded into the bottle 2.

After the bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4, until the process of filling the beverage a shown in FIG. 14(J) is reached, as shown in FIG. 18, the mist M of hydrogen peroxide is placed on the mouth 2a side. It is transported while being sprayed from.

Note that, in FIG. 18, the same components as those of the device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5B are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The mist M of hydrogen peroxide is produced by a device as shown in FIG. That is, the air flow from the blower 76 is sterilized by passing through the HEPA filter 77, heated by the heater 78, becomes hot air, and is sent to the outlet of the germicide gas generator 7. The hydrogen peroxide gas G generated in the germicide gas generator 7 is taken into the hot air, is carried from the nozzle 97a into the cover 97, and becomes the mist M.

The mist M of hydrogen peroxide flows down into the bottle 2 running in the cover 97 from above the mouth 2a and adheres to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2.

Further, since the mist M fills the tunnel-shaped cover 97, it forms a very thin film and uniformly adheres to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the mist M is low, and the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2 are lightly sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide component and the heat of the air flow.

In addition, the air flow carrying the mist M becomes a positive pressure in the cover 97 to prevent invasion of microorganisms and the like into the cover 97 and prevent the bottle 2 from being contaminated. Even if microorganisms are mixed in the cover 97, the microorganisms are killed by hydrogen peroxide.

After the bottle 2 passes through the cover 97, as shown in FIG. 14(J), the beverage a is filled into the bottle 2 from the filling nozzle 10, and as shown in FIG. 14(K), the cap 3 as a lid is used. By being hermetically sealed, the bottle 2 becomes an aseptic package.

An aseptic filling device for carrying out the method for sterilizing the bottle 2 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 19, the aseptic filling apparatus includes a preform feeder 11 that sequentially supplies a cylindrical preform 1 having a bottom and a mouth 2a (see FIG. 11A) at predetermined intervals, and blow molding. A machine 12 and a filling machine 13 for filling the molded bottle 2 (see FIG. 18) with the beverage a (see FIG. 14(J)) and sealing with the cap 3 (see FIG. 14(K)) are provided.

This aseptic filling device is surrounded by chambers 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e and 41f from the blow molding machine 12 to the filling machine 13.

The chamber 41a corresponds to a portion for supplying a sterilizing agent to the preform, the chamber 41b corresponds to a portion for molding the bottle 2, the chamber 41c corresponds to a portion for sending the bottle to the filling position of the contents, and the chamber 41d The bottle 2 is filled with the drink a, which is the content, and the chamber 41e corresponds to a portion where the bottle 3 is sealed with the cap 3.

Although an outlet conveyor (not shown) is provided at the outlet of the bottle 2 in the chamber 41e, the outlet conveyor is surrounded by the chamber 41f.

The part from the chamber 41b to the chamber 41c is maintained as a clean room. In order to provide a clean room, aseptic positive pressure air that has passed through the HEPA filter is supplied into the chambers 41b to 41c before the production of the aseptic package. As a result, the inside of the chambers 41b to 41c is maintained in a clean state, and it becomes possible to manufacture a bottle having a high sterility level.

Before the aseptic positive pressure air is blown into the chambers 41b to 41c, the chambers 41b to 41c may be gas-sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas of 10 mg/L or less. Further, a site where the preform 1 and the bottle 2 come into contact with each other may be irradiated with a UV lamp (ultraviolet ray sterilization). Alternatively, the parts such as the mold 4, the drawing rod 5, and the gripper 32 that come into contact with the materials may be wiped with a chemical containing 1% of ethanol or hydrogen peroxide.

Between the preform supply machine 11 and the filling machine 13, a preform carrying means for carrying the preform 1 on the first carrying path, and a mold 4 having a cavity C in the shape of a finished product of the bottle 2 (see FIG. 2(D)), and a mold conveying unit for conveying the second mold on the second conveyer path connected to the first conveyer path, and the bottle 2 molded by the mold 4 to the second conveyer path. And a bottle conveying means for sterilizing and filling the bottle 2 while being conveyed on the third conveying path connected to.

The first transfer path of the preform transfer means, the second transfer path of the mold transfer means, and the third transfer path of the bottle transfer means communicate with each other, and the preform 1 is placed on these transfer paths. An unillustrated gripper or the like for holding and transporting the bottle 2 is provided.

The device structure from the first transport path to the second transport path is the same as in the case of the second embodiment, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

A cover 97 (see FIG. 18) that covers the bottle 2 from above the mouth portion 2a is provided in a tunnel shape above the traveling path of the bottle 2 on the wheels 21, 22, 89 in the third transport path.

A sterile air supply device as shown in FIG. 18 is connected to a portion corresponding to the wheel 22, which is substantially the center of the cover 97.

The aseptic air supply device has a conduit from the blower 76 to the cover 97, and has a HEPA filter 77 and a heater 78 in this order on the conduit toward the downstream side. Further, between the heater 78 and the cover 97 in the conduit, a germicide gas generator similar to the germicide gas generator 7 shown in FIG. 4 is provided.

As a result, the air flow from the blower 76 is sterilized by the HEPA filter 77, heated by the heater 78, becomes sterile hot air, flows through the conduit, and the hydrogen peroxide gas G is generated from the germicide gas generator 7. While being added in a small amount, it flows into the cover 97 from the nozzle 97a. The gas G of hydrogen peroxide water enters into the cover 97 from the nozzle 97a, and the bottle 2 runs in the cover 97 filled with the hydrogen peroxide gas G.

The concentration of hydrogen peroxide gas G is 5 mg/L or less, preferably 3 mg/L or less. When the gas concentration is higher than 5 mg/L, hydrogen peroxide may remain in the bottle 2 and exceed the FDA standard of 0.5 ppm. However, when the volume of the bottle 2 is large, the residual value of hydrogen peroxide tends to be low, so that the gas concentration of hydrogen peroxide can be set higher than 5 mg/L in some cases.

As shown in FIG. 19, aseptic hot air from the aseptic air supply device is further heated by another heater 96 and then supplied to the air nozzle 80. Further, it is also supplied into the cover 86 of the preform 1.

A filler 39 and a capper 40 are provided at a position from the wheel 24 following the wheel 89 to the wheel 27 in the third transport path.

Specifically, the filler 39 is configured by providing a large number of filling nozzles 10 (see FIG. 14(J)) for filling the bottle 2 with the beverage a around the wheel 24, and around the wheel 26. A capper 40 for attaching and sealing the cap 3 (see FIG. 14(K)) to the bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is configured.

Next, the operation of the aseptic filling device will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19.

First, the preform 1 is conveyed toward the heating furnace 33 by the row of the preform conveyor 14 and the wheels 15, 16 and 17.

When the preform 1 travels around the wheel 15 before entering the heating furnace 33, the hydrogen peroxide gas G or mist or a mixture thereof is supplied from the sterilizing agent supply nozzle 6 toward the preform 1.

Subsequently, when the preform 1 having the hydrogen peroxide attached thereto travels around the wheel 16, the hot air P is blown onto the preform 1 from the air nozzle 80. The heat of the hot air P activates the hydrogen peroxide attached to the preform 1 and kills the microorganisms attached to the preform 1. Further, excess hydrogen peroxide is removed from the surface of the preform 1 by the hot air P.

It is also possible to blow the hot air P by the air nozzle 81 shown in FIG. 7 to blow the foreign matter in the preform 1 to the outside of the preform 1 and to collect the blown foreign matter by the suction pipe 82. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, by making the air nozzle 81 and the preform 1 reverse to those shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to remove the foreign matter in the preform 1 to the outside of the preform 1. ..

Then, the preform 1 is received by the spindle 43 (see FIG. 11C) on the endless chain 18 and conveyed into the heating furnace 33.

In the heating furnace 33, the preform 1 is heated by the infrared heater 18a, and the entire temperature of the preform 1 except the mouth 2a is uniformly heated to a temperature range suitable for blow molding.

The preform 1 heated to the molding temperature in the heating furnace 33 is blown with aseptic air Q while traveling around the wheel 19 while passing through the cover 86 (see FIG. 12D). As a result, the preform 1 is conveyed to the blow molding machine 12 while maintaining its sterility. When the sterile air Q is hot air, the preform 1 reaches the blow molding machine 12 while maintaining the temperature suitable for molding appropriately.

When the preform 1 passes through the outer periphery of the wheel 20, it is held by a mold 4 as shown in FIG. 12(E) and blown with aseptic high-pressure air to expand into a finished product of a bottle 2 in a cavity C. To do.

The molded bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4 by the gripper of the wheel 21 after the mold 4 is opened, and is inspected by the inspection device 35 for the presence or absence of molding defects.

The defective bottles 2 are removed from the row by a discharge device (not shown), and only the good bottles 2 are transferred to the wheels 22 and 89 and are conveyed downstream.

As the bottle 2 travels from the wheel 21 to the wheel 89, aseptic hot air Q to which a trace amount of hydrogen peroxide is added is blown while passing through the cover 97. The heat and hydrogen peroxide contained in the hot air Q sterilize the microorganisms that can enter the chamber 41b, so that the bottle 2 is transported to the downstream side while maintaining the aseptic state. Further, the hydrogen peroxide is decomposed at the time of leaving the cover 97 or after it comes out, and the bottle 2 is conveyed to the filling machine 13 in a state where the hydrogen peroxide does not remain.

The bottle 2 coming out of the cover 97 reaches the filling machine 13, and the bottle 2 in the filling machine 13 is filled with the beverage a sterilized in advance by the filling nozzle 10 of the filler 39 as shown in FIG. 14(J). The bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is sealed with the cap 3 by the capper 40 (see FIG. 14(K)), and discharged from the aseptic filling device through the outlet of the chamber 41d.

In the fourth embodiment, the same parts as those in the other embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

<Sixth Embodiment>
Also according to the sixth embodiment, an aseptic package including the bottle 2 and the cap 3 as shown in FIG. 14(K) can be manufactured.

The bottle 2 is sterilized as shown in FIGS. 11(A)(B)(C), FIG. 12(D)(E), FIG. 20(F1)(F2)(F3), and FIG. 14(J)(K). An aseptic package is obtained through the steps of molding, sterilization, beverage filling, and sealing.

First, the preform 1 shown in FIG. 11A is continuously conveyed at a desired speed, and the sterilant gas G or mist or a mixture thereof is supplied to the running preform 1.

The preform may be preheated by blowing hot air onto the preform 1 immediately before blowing the gas G onto the preform 1 shown in FIG.

The preform 1 to which hydrogen peroxide has been supplied is supplied with hot air P by an air nozzle 80, as shown in FIG.

By blowing the hot air P, the hydrogen peroxide attached to the surface of the preform 1 is activated by the heat of the hot air P, whereby the microorganisms in the preform 1 are sterilized. Further, the hydrogen peroxide attached to the preform 1 by the blowing of the hot air P is promptly removed from the surface of the preform 1.

As shown in FIG. 11C, the sterilized preform 1 is heated by the infrared heater 18a and other heating means to a temperature suitable for later blow molding.

As shown in FIG. 12(D), the heated preform 1 is released from the spindle 43 and is blown with aseptic air Q from the side of the mouth 2a, while the metal mold is the blow molding die shown in FIG. 12(E). It is conveyed to the mold 4. By spraying the aseptic air Q, the preform 1 is supplied to the mold 4 while maintaining the sterility.

As shown in FIG. 12(E), the preform 1 that is transported while maintaining the sterility by spraying the aseptic air Q is housed in the mold 4 and molded into the bottle 2.

After being taken out of the mold 4, the bottle 2 is conveyed in the cover 97 until the process of filling the beverage a shown in FIG. ), aseptic hot air Q is blown while being conveyed, and subsequently, in the middle stage of the cover 97, as shown in FIG. It is conveyed while being blown from the portion 2a side, and subsequently, in the latter stage of the cover 97, aseptic hot air Q is blown and conveyed as shown in FIG. When the residual hydrogen peroxide concentration in the bottle 2 is less than 0.5 ppm which is the standard of FDA, the hot air Q may be at room temperature.

The bottle 2 is heated while being aseptic by being sprayed with aseptic hot air Q before the cover 97. As a result, the bottle 2 runs to the middle stage of the cover 97 while maintaining a predetermined temperature, the hydrogen peroxide flowing into the middle stage of the cover 97 is activated, and microorganisms that may enter from the molding machine 12 side are activated. Sterilized. Then, when the bottle 2 enters the latter stage of the cover 97, the excess hydrogen peroxide attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2 is rinsed by the aseptic hot air Q and removed from the surface of the bottle 2. Thus, the bottle 2 moves to the next filling machine 13 while maintaining its sterility.

When the bottle 2 passes through the cover 97 and then enters the filling machine 13, first, as shown in FIG. 14(J), the beverage a is filled from the filling nozzle 10 into the bottle 2, and then, FIG. 14(K). As shown in, the bottle 2 is made into an aseptic package by being sealed with the cap 3 which is a lid.

An aseptic filling device for carrying out the method for sterilizing the bottle 2 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 21, the aseptic filling apparatus includes a preform feeder 11 for sequentially feeding a cylindrical bottomed preform 1 having a mouth 2a (see FIG. 11A) and a blow molding. A machine 12 and a filling machine 13 for filling the molded bottle 2 (see FIG. 20) with the beverage a (see FIG. 14(J)) and sealing with the cap 3 (see FIG. 14(K)) are provided.

This aseptic filling device is surrounded by chambers 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41e, 41f at a position from the blow molding machine 12 to the filling machine 13.

The chamber 41a corresponds to a portion for supplying a sterilizing agent to the preform, the chamber 41b corresponds to a portion for molding the bottle 2, the chamber 41c corresponds to a portion for sending the bottle to the filling position of the contents, and the chamber 41d It corresponds to a place where the bottle 2 is filled with the drink a, which is the content, and sealed.

The part from the chamber 41b to the chamber 41c is maintained as a clean room. In order to provide a clean room, aseptic positive pressure air that has passed through a HEPA filter (not shown) is supplied into the chambers 41b to 41c before manufacturing the aseptic package. Thereby, the inside of the chambers 41b to 41c is maintained in a clean state, and the bottle 2 having a high sterility level can be manufactured.

Before the aseptic positive pressure air is blown into the chambers 41b to 41c, the chambers 41b to 41c may be gas-sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas of 10 mg/L or less. Further, a site where the preform 1 and the bottle 2 come into contact with each other may be irradiated with a UV lamp (ultraviolet ray sterilization). Alternatively, the parts such as the mold 4, the drawing rod 5, and the gripper 32 that come into contact with the material may be wiped with a chemical containing 1% by mass of ethanol or hydrogen peroxide.

Between the preform feeder 11 and the filling machine 13, a preform conveying means for conveying the preform 1 on the first conveying path, and a mold 4 having a cavity C in the shape of a finished product of the bottle 2 (see FIG. 12(E)), and a mold transporting means for transporting the second transport path connected to the first transport path, and a bottle 2 molded by the mold 4 to the second transport path. And a bottle conveying means for sterilizing and filling the bottle 2 while being conveyed on the third conveying path connected to.

The first transfer path of the preform transfer means, the second transfer path of the mold transfer means, and the third transfer path of the bottle transfer means communicate with each other, and the preform 1 is placed on these transfer paths. An unillustrated gripper or the like for holding and transporting the bottle 2 is provided.

The device structure from the first transport path to the second transport path is the same as in the case of the second embodiment, so detailed description thereof will be omitted.

A cover 97 (see FIG. 20) that covers the bottle 2 from above the mouth portion 2a is provided in a tunnel shape above the traveling path of the bottle 2 on the wheels 21, 22, 89 in the third transport path.

A sterile air supply device as shown in FIG. 18 is connected to a portion corresponding to the wheel 22, which is substantially the center of the cover 97.

The aseptic air supply device has a conduit from the blower 76 to the cover 87, and has a HEPA filter 77 and a heater 78 in this order on the conduit toward the downstream side. Further, between the heater 78 and the cover 97 in the conduit, a germicide gas generator similar to the germicide gas generator 7 shown in FIG. 4 is provided.

As a result, the air flow from the blower 76 is sterilized by the HEPA filter 77, heated by the heater 78, becomes sterile hot air, flows through the conduit, and the hydrogen peroxide gas G is generated from the germicide gas generator 7. While being added in a small amount, it flows into the cover 97 from the nozzle 97a. The gas G of hydrogen peroxide water enters into the cover 97 from the nozzle 97a, and the bottle 2 runs in the cover 97 filled with the hydrogen peroxide gas G.

The concentration of hydrogen peroxide gas G is 5 mg/L or less, preferably 3 mg/L or less. When the gas concentration is higher than 5 mg/L, hydrogen peroxide may remain in the bottle 2 and exceed the FDA standard of 0.5 ppm. However, when the volume of the bottle 2 is large, the residual value of hydrogen peroxide tends to be low, so that the gas concentration of hydrogen peroxide can be set higher than 5 mg/L in some cases.

As shown in FIG. 21, aseptic hot air from the aseptic air supply device is further heated by another heater 96 and then supplied to the air nozzle 80. Further, it is also supplied into the cover 86 of the preform 1.

A filler 39 and a capper 40 are provided at a position from the wheel 24 following the wheel 89 to the wheel 27 in the third transport path.

Specifically, the filler 39 is configured by providing a large number of filling nozzles 10 (see FIG. 14(J)) for filling the bottle 2 with the beverage a around the wheel 24, and around the wheel 26. A capper 40 for attaching and sealing the cap 3 (see FIG. 14(K)) to the bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is configured.

In the first to third transport paths, the circumference of the wheel 15 is surrounded by the chamber 41a. The periphery of the portion from the wheel 16 to the wheel 21 is surrounded by the chamber 41b. The periphery of the wheel 22 and the wheel 89 is surrounded by the chamber 41c. The periphery of the portion from the wheel 24 to the wheel 27 is surrounded by the chamber 41d.

Aseptic air purified by a not-shown HEPA filter or the like is constantly supplied to the inside of the chamber 41b. As a result, the chamber 41b is made into a clean room and the invasion of microorganisms into the interior thereof is blocked.

The inside of each of the chambers 41a to 41f is sterilized by performing, for example, COP or SOP, and then, the exhaust means similar to that shown in FIG. 3 installed in each of these chambers 41a, 41c, 41f or integrally. The gas and mist of the sterilizing agent and the cleaning agent are discharged from the chambers 41a, 41c, 41f to the outside of the chambers. Then, aseptic air purified by a filter (not shown) or the like is supplied into the chambers 41a, 41c, 41f, so that the sterility of the chambers 41a, 41d is maintained.

On the other hand, the chambers 41a, 41b, 41c are not places where product liquids such as beverages are scattered. Since the chambers 41a and 41c are exposed to the chemicals during manufacturing, these chambers have a small risk of microbial contamination even if COP and SOP are not performed.

Here, if the pressure in the chamber 41d due to the blowing of the aseptic air is p3, and the pressures in the central portion, upstream side portion, and downstream side portion in the cover 97 are p1, p0, and p2, then p3>p2>p0 The pressure is adjusted so that the relation of >p1 is satisfied. Specifically, based on the atmospheric pressure, for example, p3 is set to 30 to 100 Pa, p2 is set to 10 to 30 Pa, p0 is set to 0 to 10 Pa, and p1 is set to -30 to 0 Pa. Due to this pressure relationship, the hydrogen peroxide supplied to the central portion of the cover 97 is prevented from flowing into the upstream side portion and the downstream side portion, and is not introduced into the chamber 41d in which the filling machine 39 exists. The inflow of air from the chamber 41c side and the inflow of air containing hydrogen peroxide are completely blocked.

Next, the operation of the aseptic filling device will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21.

First, the preform 1 is conveyed toward the heating furnace 33 by the row of the preform conveyor 14 and the wheels 15, 16 and 17.

When the preform 1 travels around the wheel 15 before entering the heating furnace 33, the hydrogen peroxide gas G or mist or a mixture thereof is supplied from the sterilizing agent supply nozzle 6 toward the preform 1.

Subsequently, when the preform 1 having the hydrogen peroxide attached thereto travels around the wheel 16, the hot air P is blown onto the preform 1 from the air nozzle 80. The heat of the hot air P activates the hydrogen peroxide attached to the preform 1 and kills the microorganisms attached to the preform 1. Further, excess hydrogen peroxide is removed from the surface of the preform 1 by the hot air P.

It is also possible to blow the hot air P by the air nozzle 81 shown in FIG. 7 to blow the foreign matter in the preform 1 to the outside of the preform 1 and to collect the blown foreign matter by the suction pipe 82. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, by making the air nozzle 81 and the preform 1 reverse to those shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to remove the foreign matter in the preform 1 to the outside of the preform 1. ..

Then, the preform 1 is received by the spindle 43 (see FIG. 11C) on the endless chain 18 and conveyed into the heating furnace 33.

In the heating furnace 33, the preform 1 is heated by the infrared heater 18a, and the entire temperature of the preform 1 except the mouth 2a is uniformly heated to a temperature range suitable for blow molding.

The preform 1 heated to the molding temperature in the heating furnace 33 is blown with sterile air Q while traveling around the wheel 19 while passing through the cover 86. As a result, the preform 1 is conveyed to the blow molding machine 12 while maintaining its sterility. When the sterile air Q is hot air, the preform 1 reaches the blow molding machine 12 while maintaining the temperature suitable for molding appropriately.

When the preform 1 passes through the outer periphery of the wheel 20, it is held by a mold 4 as shown in FIG. 12(E) and blown with aseptic high-pressure air to expand into a finished product of a bottle 2 in a cavity C. To do.

The molded bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4 by the gripper of the wheel 21 after the mold 4 is opened, and is inspected by the inspection device 35 for the presence or absence of molding defects.

The defective bottles 2 are removed from the row by a discharge device (not shown), and only the defective bottles 2 are transferred to the wheel 22 and conveyed to the sterilizer 88.

Further, as the bottle 2 travels from the wheel 21 to the wheel 89, aseptic air Q is blown in the upstream side portion while passing through the cover 97 as shown in FIG. 20(F1). As a result, the bottle 2 moves toward the center while maintaining its sterility. At the center, the bottle 2 is sprayed with a mist M of hydrogen peroxide solution. As a result, a hydrogen peroxide solution film is formed on the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2. Further, aseptic air Q is blown on the downstream side, whereby hydrogen peroxide attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2 is activated, and excess hydrogen peroxide is decomposed and removed.

After that, the bottle 2 reaches the filling machine 13, and the beverage a which has been sterilized in advance is filled with the filling nozzle 10 of the filler 39 as shown in FIG. The bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is sealed with the cap 3 by the capper 40 (see FIG. 14(K)), and discharged from the aseptic filling device through the outlet of the chamber 41d.

In the fifth embodiment, the same parts as those of the other embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

<Embodiment 7>
According to the seventh embodiment, as in the case of the sixth embodiment, a sterile package including the bottle 2 and the cap 3 as shown in FIG. 14(K) can be manufactured.

Further, as in the case of the sixth embodiment, the bottle 2 has the following configurations: FIG. 11(A)(B)(C), FIG. 12(D)(E), FIG. 20(F1)(F2)(F3), An aseptic package is obtained through the steps of sterilization, molding, sterilization, beverage filling, and sealing shown in FIGS.

The aseptic filling apparatus according to the seventh embodiment is configured as shown in FIG. 22, but the method for supplying hydrogen peroxide to the central portion inside the cover 97 is different from that according to the sixth embodiment.

That is, a plurality of generators similar to the germicide gas generator 7 shown in FIG. 4 are attached to a portion of the cover 97 corresponding to the central portion. By supplying the hydrogen peroxide water gas G generated from these germicide gas generators 7 to the central portion, the mist M of the hydrogen peroxide water is sprayed immediately above and the bottle 2 running in the cover 97 Hydrogen peroxide will adhere to the inner and outer surfaces. In FIG. 22, reference numeral 93 is a hydrogen peroxide supply nozzle of the germicide gas generator 7.

In the seventh embodiment, the same parts as those of the other embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description will be omitted.

When the amount of hydrogen peroxide adsorbed on the preform and the sterilizing effect on the inner surface of the preform were examined, the results shown in Table 2 were obtained.

Experimental example No. 1: 35 mass% hydrogen peroxide gas was blown into the preform at a flow rate of 6 g/min. As a result, the amount of hydrogen peroxide attached to the inner surface of the preform was 0.028 μL/cm ² .

Experimental Example No. 2: The same amount of hydrogen peroxide gas as in Experimental Example No. 1 was blown into the preform. Subsequently, hot air was blown into the preform for 1.2 seconds. By blowing hot air, hydrogen peroxide in the preform was vaporized and dried, but part of the hydrogen peroxide was adsorbed in the preform (PET layer). The amount of hydrogen peroxide adsorbed was 0.013 μL/cm ² . The amount of hydrogen peroxide adsorbed was obtained by putting water in the preform and allowing it to stand for 24 hours, and then measuring the amount of hydrogen peroxide dissolved in water with a hydrogen peroxide concentration measuring instrument.

Experimental example No. 3: In the same manner as in experimental example No. 2, hydrogen peroxide gas was blown into the preform and hot air was blown into the preform. Following the blowing of hot air, the preform was heated for 20 seconds until it reached 120°C. The bactericidal effect against B. atrophaeus spores under this condition was confirmed to be 6.0 LRV or more. Further, when water was added to the preform and the amount of hydrogen peroxide dissolved in water was measured in the same manner as in Experimental Example 2, the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide was 0.006 μL/cm ² .

As is clear from the comparison between Experimental Examples No. 2 and No. 3, the adsorption amount of hydrogen peroxide by the preform of 0.007 μL/cm ² (=0.013-0.006) is heated for activation. As a result, a sterilizing effect of 6.0 LRV or more can be obtained on the inner surface of the preform.

Experimental Example No. 4: The preform was sterilized by the same procedure as in Experimental Example No. 2. However, unlike Experimental Example No. 2, hot air was supplied for 5.0 seconds. The hydrogen peroxide adsorption amount of the preform thus obtained was 0.003 μL/cm ² .

Experimental Example No. 5: The preform was sterilized by the same procedure as in Experimental Example No. 3. However, unlike Experimental Example No. 3, hot air was supplied for 5.0 seconds. The residual amount of hydrogen peroxide in the preform thus obtained was 0.001 μL/cm ² . The bactericidal effect was 6.0 LRV or more.

As is clear from the comparison between Experimental Examples No. 4 and No. 5, the hydrogen peroxide adsorption amount of 0.002 μL/cm ² (=0.003-0.001) by the preform is activated by heating. As a result, a sterilizing effect of 6.0 LRV or more can be obtained on the inner surface of the preform.

Further, as is clear from the comparison between Experimental Examples No. 3 and No. 5, when the hot air supply time was changed from 1.2 seconds to 5.0 seconds, the amount of residual hydrogen peroxide was 0.006 μL/cm ^2. It can be seen from the above that it is reduced to 0.001 μL/cm ² .

Experimental Example No. 6: The preform was sterilized by the same procedure as Experimental Example No. 4. However, unlike Experimental Example No. 4, hot air was supplied for 10.0 seconds. The hydrogen peroxide adsorption amount of the preform thus obtained was 0.001 μL/cm ² .

Experimental Example No. 7: The preform was sterilized in the same procedure as Experimental Example No. 5. However, unlike Experimental Example No. 5, hot air was supplied for 10.0 seconds. The residual amount of hydrogen peroxide in the preform thus obtained was 0.000 μL/cm ² . The bactericidal effect was 6.0 LRV or more.

As is clear from the comparison between Experimental Examples No. 6 and No. 7, the adsorption amount of hydrogen peroxide by the preform of 0.001 μL/cm ² (=0.001-0.000) is activated by heating. As a result, a sterilizing effect of 6.0 LRV or more can be obtained on the inner surface of the preform.

Further, as is clear from the comparison between Experimental Examples No. 6 and No. 7, when the hot air supply time was changed from 5.0 seconds to 10.0 seconds, the amount of residual hydrogen peroxide was 0.001 μL/cm ² It can be seen that the amount decreases to an unmeasurable amount.

For example, as described in Japanese Patent No. 4012653, conventionally, the adhered amount of hydrogen peroxide required for sterilizing a bottle is 5 μL to 100 μL. Since the inner surface area of the preform for 500 ml bottles is approximately 500 cm ² , the hydrogen peroxide adsorption amount of 0.001 to 0.006 μL/cm ² in the above embodiment of the present invention corresponds to 0.5 μL to 3 μL. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to sterilize the bottle with an extremely small amount of hydrogen peroxide of 1/33 to 1/10, and the hydrogen peroxide adsorption amount is 0.001 to 0.006 μL/cm ² . It was confirmed that a bactericidal effect of 6 LRV or more was obtained against spore bacteria, although it was extremely small. This is a level at which aseptic filling is possible as the bottle sterilization performance.

In Experimental Examples No. 3, No. 5, and No. 7, the preforms were heated in the heating furnace of the blow molding machine, but corrosion, etc. could be seen in various equipment such as packing in the blow molding machine. could not.

1... Preform 2... Bottle 4... Blow Mold 6... Nozzle 9... Vaporizer 80... Air Nozzle 80a... Blowout G... Gas P... Hot Air

Claims (1)

Mist or gas of hydrogen peroxide in the bottle running in the tunnel-shaped cover that covers from above the mouth of the bottle surrounding the running path of the bottle other than the opening part where the gripper that grips the bottle's neck turns, or these A method of sterilizing a bottle sprayed with a mixture of
Before spraying the hydrogen peroxide mist or gas or a mixture thereof on the bottle running in the cover, aseptic hot air is sprayed on the bottle, and the hydrogen peroxide mist on the bottle running in the cover or Blowing sterile hot air on the bottle after blowing gas or a mixture thereof,
The pressure of a portion for spraying the mist or gas of hydrogen peroxide or a mixture thereof to the bottle traveling in the cover is p1, and the mist or gas of hydrogen peroxide or a mixture thereof in the bottle traveling in the cover. Before spraying the bottle with aseptic hot air at a pressure of p0, spraying the hydrogen peroxide mist or gas or a mixture thereof onto the bottle running in the cover, and then aseptic hot air to the bottle. A method of sterilizing a bottle, characterized in that the pressure is adjusted so that the relation of p2>p0>p1 is satisfied when the pressure of the sprayed portion is p2.

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