JP6975374B2 - Goods processing system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an article processing system, and more particularly to an article processing system capable of simultaneously decontaminating a sterilization chamber and a working room through an opening of a partition wall.

Conventionally, a decontamination system in which two chambers to be decontaminated are decontaminated using hydrogen peroxide gas is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
In the decontamination system of Patent Document 1, dry decontamination in which the hydrogen peroxide gas supplied is not condensed in one of the two chambers arranged adjacent to each other, and hydrogen peroxide gas to be supplied is supplied in the other chamber. Decontamination is performed at the same time under different conditions of wet decontamination.

Japanese Patent No. 5571105 Japanese Patent No. 4590912

By the way, in an article processing system in which a container is sterilized with an electron beam and then the sterilized container is filled with a filling liquid in a sterile state, a sterilization chamber for sterilizing the container with an electron beam and the container are filled in a sterile state. It is necessary to arrange the filling chamber in which the filling device for filling the liquid is arranged so as to communicate with each other through the opening of the partition wall, and decontaminate the sterilization chamber and the filling chamber with hydrogen peroxide gas.
However, when trying to decontaminate the inside of the sterilization chamber and the filling chamber arranged in communication with hydrogen peroxide gas, the following problems occur. That is, an irradiation window for irradiating an electron beam is arranged in the sterilization chamber, and the container in the sterilization chamber is sterilized by the electron beam emitted from the irradiation window. The irradiation window is composed of a titanium film. Therefore, when the hydrogen peroxide solution gas supplied for decontaminating the sterilization chamber condenses and adheres to the irradiation window, there arises a problem that the titanium film is corroded.
Therefore, when decontaminating the sterilization chamber provided with the titanium irradiation window with hydrogen peroxide gas, dry decontamination is performed in the sterilization chamber so that the hydrogen peroxide gas does not condense, while the filling chamber is hydrogen peroxide. It is conceivable to perform wet decontamination by condensing gas to perform decontamination.
By the way, an opening for passing a container is formed in the partition wall separating the sterilization chamber and the filling chamber, and a shutter for opening and closing the opening and a packing for maintaining the airtightness between the shutter and the opening are provided. ing. In such a configuration, it is necessary not only to decontaminate the sterilization chamber and the filling chamber under different conditions, but also to decontaminate the packing of the opening.
Here, when decontaminating the packing of the opening, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is conceivable to sterilize the packing with the heat of the heater. However, in this case, decontamination with hydrogen peroxide gas causes the wall surfaces of both chambers to be decontaminated to become hot, and normal decontamination of that portion cannot be performed. There is a problem that decontamination cannot be performed at the same time and the decontamination work takes a lot of time.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is provided between the sterilizing chamber for sterilizing the article, the working room for performing the required processing on the article sterilized in the sterilizing chamber, and the sterilizing chamber and the working room. A partition wall with an opening through which hydrogen peroxide can pass, a sterilization room decontamination device that decontaminates the sterilization room with hydrogen peroxide gas, and a work room decontamination device that decontaminates the work room with hydrogen peroxide gas. And a control device that controls the operation of the sterilization room decontamination device and the work room decontamination device.
An irradiation window for passing an electron beam to irradiate an article in the sterilization chamber is provided in the sterilization chamber, and an electron beam irradiation device for irradiating the article in the sterilization chamber with an electron beam through the irradiation window is provided, and further, the partition is provided. The sterilization chamber and the work room are communicated with each other through the opening in the wall.
In a state where the pressure of the sterilization chamber is higher than that of the work chamber, the hydrogen peroxide gas is supplied to the sterilization chamber without being condensed by the sterilization chamber decontamination device, and the sterilization chamber is dry-decontaminated at the same time. It is characterized in that hydrogen peroxide gas is supplied to the working room so as to be condensed by a room decontamination device to wet-decontaminate the working room.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to simultaneously decontaminate both adjacent chambers under different conditions in a state where both adjacent chambers are communicated with each other through the opening. At the same time, the packing for sealing the opening is also decontaminated by the decontamination gas flowing through the opening. Therefore, since the decontamination of both chambers and the decontamination of the packing can be performed at the same time, it is not necessary to decontaminate only the packing individually, and therefore, an article processing system capable of shortening the time required for the decontamination work is provided. can.

The vertical sectional view which shows one Example of this invention. Enlarged view of the main part of FIG. The right side view of FIG. Enlarged view of the main part of FIG. The block diagram which shows the preparation stage of the article processing system shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the state at the time of decontamination of the article processing system shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the state at the time of the filling operation of the article processing system shown in FIG. The vertical sectional view which shows the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The vertical sectional view which shows the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with respect to the illustrated examples. In FIGS. 1 to 5, reference numeral 1 denotes an article processing system for filling a container 2 with a filling liquid (chemical solution) in a sterile state. The article processing system 1 has a housing 3 whose internal space is divided into a sterilization chamber 4 and a filling chamber 5 by a partition wall 3A, and a transfer wheel 6 which is arranged in the sterilization chamber 4 and holds and conveys a container 2. An electron beam irradiator 8 that irradiates the container 2 in the sterilization chamber 4 with an electron beam EB through an irradiation window 7 provided on the wall surface 4A of the sterilization chamber 4, and an electron beam irradiator 8 provided in the filling chamber 5 after sterilization. A rotary filling device 11 for filling the container 2 with a filling liquid (chemical solution), a delivery wheel 12 provided in the filling chamber 5 for receiving the container 2 from the transfer wheel 6 and delivering it to the filling device 11, and a sterilization chamber. The operation of the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13 for dry decontamination of the inside of 4 with hydrogen peroxide gas G and the work room decontamination device 14 for wet decontamination of the inside of the filling chamber 5 with hydrogen peroxide gas G are controlled. The control device 15 is provided.

The inside of the sealed housing 3 is divided by a partition wall 3A into two internal spaces, a sterilization chamber 4 as a dry decontamination target chamber and a filling chamber 5 as a wet decontamination target chamber, and the partition wall 3A. Is formed with a rectangular opening 3B through which the container 2 can pass. The sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 as a working chamber can communicate with each other through the opening 3B.
A shutter 17 and an elevating cylinder 16 for raising and lowering the shutter 17 are provided on the wall surface of the partition wall 3A inside the filling chamber 5, and the opening 3B can be opened and closed by the shutter 17.
The operation of the elevating cylinder 16 is controlled by the control device 15, and when the shutter 17 is located at the open position of the descending end via the elevating cylinder 16, the opening 3B is opened. The container 2 can be carried from the sterilization chamber 4 to the filling chamber 5 (see FIG. 1). On the other hand, when the shutter 17 is located at the closed position of the rising end via the elevating cylinder 16, the entire opening 3B is covered and closed (see FIGS. 2 to 4).

A mounting groove 3C having a U-shaped cross section is formed on the wall surface of the partition wall 3A on the filling chamber 5 side so as to surround the opening 3B, and the expansion packing 18 surrounds the opening 3B in the mounting groove 3C. It is attached.
The expansion packing 18 is made of silicone rubber, and is expanded or contracted by supplying and discharging compressed air from a compressed air supply source (not shown) inside the expansion packing 18. The operation of the compressed air supply source is controlled by the control device 15.
When compressed air is not supplied to the expansion packing 18, it is contracted, and even if the shutter 17 is located at the rising end and the opening 3B is covered in the closed state, the expansion packing 18 and the shutter 17 are still in contact with each other. A gap 19 is maintained between them, and the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 communicate with each other through the gap 19 and the opening 3B.
On the other hand, when the control device 15 operates the compressed air supply source and the compressed air is supplied into the expansion packing 18 in the closed state where the opening 3B is covered by the shutter 17, as shown by the broken line in FIG. Since the expanded packing 18 expands and comes into close contact with the shutter 17 at the opposite position, the expansion packing 18 cuts off the communication between the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5. Further, when the supply of compressed air to the expansion packing 18 is stopped from that state, the expansion packing 18 contracts to the original size shown by the solid line and is separated from the shutter 17.
In this embodiment, the expansion packing 18 is expanded and brought into close contact with the closed shutter 17, so that the communication between the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 is blocked, and the expansion packing 18 is closed while being contracted. By separating it from the shutter 17, it is possible to switch to a communication state in which the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 are communicated with each other.
As will be described in detail later, when both chambers 4 and 5 are simultaneously decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide gas G, the hydrogen peroxide gas G is transferred from the sterilization chamber 4 which is in a communicating state through the gap 19 to the filling chamber 5. By distributing it, the expansion packing 18 itself can be decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide gas G.
A work glove (not shown) is provided on the front wall of the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5, and a worker inserts his / her hand into the work glove to perform necessary work in the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5. You can do it. Further, the operator also attaches / detaches the gripper 12A of the delivery wheel 12 in the filling chamber 5 via the work glove.

A transport wheel 6 for holding and transporting the container 2 is rotatably provided in the sterilization chamber 4, and a gripper 6A for holding the container 2 is provided at equidistant positions on the outer peripheral portion of the transport wheel 6. When the container 2 is supplied to and held by the gripper 6A of the transfer wheel 6 by the supply device of the container 2 (not shown), the container 2 held by the gripper 6A passes in front of the irradiation window 7 as the transfer wheel 6 rotates. do. At that time, since the electron beam EB is irradiated from the irradiation window 7 toward the container 2, the inside and outside of the container 2 are sterilized by the electron beam EB.
As shown in FIG. 1, the electron beam irradiation device 8 includes an electron beam generation mechanism 8A provided outside the sterilization chamber 4 to generate an electron beam EB, and the electrons generated by the electron beam generation mechanism 8A are provided. The ray EB is continuously irradiated to the container 2 in the sterilization chamber 4 through the irradiation window 7.
The electron beam generation mechanism 8A has a conventionally known configuration, and is in close contact with the irradiation window 7 from the outside and is continuously provided on the wall surface of the sterilization chamber 4. The irradiation window 7 is made of titanium, and when the electron beam EB is generated by the electron beam generation mechanism 8A, the electron beam EB is passed through the irradiation window 7 to irradiate the container 2 in the sterilization chamber 4.
In a state where the electron beam EB is continuously irradiated from the irradiation window 7 to the inside of the sterilization chamber 4, the container 2 held by the gripper 6A passes in front of the irradiation window 7 as the transfer wheel 6 rotates. The container 2 is sterilized by the electron beam EB, and then the sterilized container 2 is transported to the position of the opening 3B of the partition wall 3A with the rotation of the transport wheel 6. Then, the gripper 12A of the delivery hole 12 on the filling chamber 5 side enters the sterilization chamber 4 through the opening 3B in the open state, receives the container 2 from the gripper 6A of the transport wheel 6, and carries it into the filling chamber 5. It has become like. That is, the position of the opening 3B is the delivery position A of the container 2 from the gripper 6A of the transfer wheel 6 to the gripper 12A of the delivery wheel 12.
The delivery wheel 12 is provided with a gripper 12A for holding the container 2 at equidistant positions on the outer peripheral portion. When the container 2 is received from the gripper 6A of the transfer wheel 6 at the delivery position A, the container 2 is rotated in a predetermined direction. Is transferred, and the container 2 is delivered to the gripper 11A of the filling device 11 at the supply position B.
The gripper 12A of the delivery wheel 12 is removed from the main body of the delivery wheel 12 before the start of filling the container 2 in the filling chamber 5 (before the start of the production work). The opening 3B is closed by the shutter 17, and the expansion packing 18 is expanded so that the communication between the filling chamber 5 and the sterilization chamber 4 is cut off.

The filling device 11 is a rotary filling device, and is a filling nozzle 11B for filling a predetermined amount of a filling liquid (chemical solution) in the container 2 at equidistant positions on the outer peripheral portion, and a container 2 on the lower side of each filling nozzle 11B. The gripper 11A for holding the gripper 11A is provided. Further, although not shown, a capper for attaching a cap to the filled container 2 is arranged in the filling chamber 5 at a position adjacent to the filling device 11.
When the container 2 is supplied from the gripper 12A of the delivery wheel 12 to each gripper 11A of the filling device 11 and held at the supply position B while the filling device 11 is rotating, the container 2 is held by the gripper 11A as the filling device 11 rotates. The filling container 2 is filled with the filling liquid (chemical liquid) from the filling nozzle 11B. After that, the container 2 filled with the filling liquid is discharged to the outside of the filling chamber 5 after the cap is attached by a capper (not shown) at an adjacent position.

In this embodiment, the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 are maintained in an aseptic state, and the container 2 is filled with the filling liquid in the aseptic state. For that purpose, first, the insides of the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 are decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide gas G, and after the decontamination is completed, the container 2 is sterilized by the electron beam EB and filled in the sterilized container 2. The device 11 is used to fill the filling liquid.
In this embodiment, in a state where the opening 3B is closed by the shutter 17 and the expansion packing 18 is contracted and both chambers 4 and 5 communicate with each other, the inside of the sterilization chamber 4 provided with the irradiation window 7 is decontaminated. At the same time as the dry decontamination is performed by the device 13, the inside of the filling chamber 5 is wet-decontaminated by the working room decontamination device 14.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13 has a gas supply pipe 21 for supplying the hydrogen peroxide gas G to the sterilization chamber 4, and a gas for discharging the hydrogen peroxide gas G from the sterilization chamber 4. The discharge pipe 22, the evaporator 23 provided in the middle of the gas supply pipe 21 to generate hydrogen peroxide gas G, the air supply pipe 24 for supplying air to the sterilization chamber 4, and the air from the sterilization chamber 4 It is provided with an air discharge pipe 25 for discharging.
The end 21A of the gas supply pipe 21 communicates with the inside of the sterilization chamber 4 via the filter F1 arranged on the ceiling of the sterilization chamber 4, and the hydrogen peroxide gas G generated by the evaporator 23 is passed through the gas supply pipe. It can be supplied to the sterilization chamber 4 via the 21 and the filter F1. The filter F1 captures dust and is decontaminated by hydrogen peroxide gas G.
The air supply blower B1 and the dehumidifier 27 are sequentially arranged on the upstream side of the evaporator 23 in the gas supply pipe 21, and the solenoid valve V1 is provided on the gas supply pipe 21 on the downstream side of the evaporator 23. Has been done. One end 28A of the liquid supply pipe 28 is connected to the evaporator 23, and a pump 29 is provided in the middle of the liquid supply pipe 28. The operation of the air supply blower B1, the dehumidifier 27, the solenoid valve V1, the pump 29, and the evaporator 23 is controlled by the control device 15.
The pump 29 and the evaporator 23 are provided in a state where the container 31 containing the hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied to the position of the other end 28B of the liquid supply pipe 28 and the other end 28B is immersed in the hydrogen peroxide solution in the container 31. Is activated (see FIG. 6), hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied to the evaporator 23 via the liquid supply pipe 28 and the pump 29, and the decontamination gas is supplied in the evaporator 23 accordingly. Hydrogen peroxide gas G is generated. When the solenoid valve V1 is opened and the supply air blower B1 is operated in a state where the hydrogen peroxide gas G is generated by the evaporator 23, the supply air blower B1 via the gas supply pipe 21 and the filter F1. Hydrogen peroxide gas G is supplied into the sterilization chamber 4. At this time, by operating the dehumidifier 27, the air sent to the sterilization chamber 4 by the air supply blower B1 is dehumidified.
A humidity detection sensor (not shown) is arranged in the gas supply pipe 21, the sterilization chamber 4, and the gas discharge pipe 22, and the detection signal of the humidity detection sensor is sent to the control device 15.
On the other hand, the gas discharge pipe 22 is sequentially provided with a solenoid valve V2, a catalyst S1 and an exhaust blower B2 from the upstream side to the downstream side. The upstream end 22A of the gas discharge pipe 22 communicates with the inside of the sterilization chamber 4 via a filter F2 provided at the bottom of the sterilization chamber 4.
The filter F2 has a function of purifying the gas flowing inside the filter F2, and the catalyst S1 has a function of decomposing and detoxifying the hydrogen peroxide gas G as a decontamination gas. When the hydrogen peroxide gas G is supplied into the sterilization chamber 4 and the decontamination work is performed, when the solenoid valve V2 is opened and the exhaust blower B2 is operated, the sterilization chamber 4 is operated via the gas discharge pipe 22. The hydrogen peroxide gas G inside is discharged. At that time, the hydrogen peroxide gas G is decontaminated by passing through the filter F2 and detoxified by passing through the catalyst S1.

An air supply pipe 24 for supplying air is arranged on the upper side of the sterilization chamber 4, and the end portion 24A of the air supply pipe 24 communicates with the sterilization chamber 4 via the filter F1. A supply air blower B3 that sends air toward the sterilization chamber 4 is arranged in the middle of the air supply pipe 24, and a solenoid valve V3 is provided on the downstream side thereof. The operation of the supply air blower B3 and the solenoid valve V3 is controlled by the control device 15.
On the other hand, an air discharge pipe 25 is arranged on the lower side of the sterilization chamber 4, and the inner end portion 25A of the air discharge pipe 25 is placed in the sterilization chamber via the filter F2 arranged at the bottom of the sterilization chamber 4. Communicate with 4. An exhaust blower B4 is provided in the middle of the air discharge pipe 25, and a solenoid valve V4 and a catalyst S2 for detoxifying hydrogen peroxide gas G are sequentially provided between the exhaust blower B4 and the filter F2. There is. The operation of the exhaust blower B4 and the solenoid valve V4 is controlled by the control device 15.
The sterilization chamber 4 is provided with a pressure gauge 32 for measuring the pressure inside the sterilization chamber 4, and the pressure P1 in the sterilization chamber 4 measured by the pressure gauge 32 is transmitted to the control device 15.
The control device 15 recognizes the pressure P1 transmitted from the pressure gauge 32 and controls the operation of the supply air blower B1, the exhaust blower B2 or the supply air blower B3, and the exhaust blower B4 in the sterilization chamber 4. The pressure P1 can be adjusted to a predetermined pressure.
The sterilization chamber decontamination device 13 is configured as described above, and by supplying the hydrogen peroxide gas G to the sterilization chamber 4 in a state where the hydrogen peroxide gas G is not condensed by the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13, the inside of the sterilization chamber 4 is dried. It can be decontaminated. As a result, the titanium irradiation window 7 provided in the sterilization chamber 4 is prevented from being damaged by the condensed hydrogen peroxide gas G.

Next, a working room decontamination device 14 for wet decontaminating the filling chamber 5 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the work room decontamination device 14 is provided in the middle of the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 for supplying / discharging hydrogen hydrogen gas G to the filling chamber 5 and the gas supply / discharge pipe 34. From the evaporator 35 that generates hydrogen oxide gas G, the air supply pipe 36 for supplying air to the filling chamber 5, the air discharge pipe 37 for discharging air from the filling chamber 5, and the gas supply / discharge pipe 34. A gas discharge pipe 38 for discharging the hydrogen peroxide gas G and an air supply pipe 40 for supplying air to the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 are provided.
One end 34A of the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 communicates with the filling chamber 5 via a filter F3 arranged on the ceiling of the filling chamber 5, and the other end 34B of the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 is arranged at the bottom of the filling chamber 5. It communicates with the filling chamber 5 through the filter F4. That is, the hydrogen peroxide gas G can be circulated and supplied to the filling chamber 5 via the gas supply / discharge pipe 34.
The entire area of the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 can be heated by using the heater 39, and the operation of the heater 39 is controlled by the control device 15. By heating the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 with the heater 39, the inside of the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 can be heated to a required temperature.
Further, a temperature detection sensor (not shown) is arranged between the evaporator 35 and one end 34A of the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34, and the detection signal of the temperature detection sensor is sent to the control device 15.
The heater 39 does not have to be arranged in the entire area of the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34, and may be arranged only in the section connected from the evaporator 35 to the filling chamber 5.
A circulation blower B5 for circulating hydrogen peroxide gas G is arranged in the middle of the gas supply / discharge pipe 34, and the end 38A of the gas discharge pipe 38 is connected to the downstream side of the circulation blower B5 in the gas supply / discharge pipe 34. At the same time, an evaporator 35 is provided.
When the circulation blower B5 is activated, air is supplied from the circulation blower B5 toward the evaporator 35 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5, whereby the hydrogen peroxide gas G generated in the evaporator 35 is generated. Can be circulated and supplied to the filling chamber 5 via the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34.
One end 41A of the liquid supply pipe 41 is connected to the evaporator 35, and a pump 42 is provided in the middle of the liquid supply pipe 41. A solenoid valve V5 is provided in the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 on the downstream side of the evaporator 35, and a solenoid valve V6 is provided in the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 on the upstream side of the circulation blower B5.
A solenoid valve V7 is provided in the gas discharge pipe 38 connected to the gas supply / discharge pipe 34, and the catalyst S3 is arranged on the downstream side thereof. Further, the end portion 40A of the air supply pipe 40 is connected between the circulation blower B5 and the solenoid valve V6 in the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34. The air supply pipe 40 is sequentially provided with a solenoid valve V10 and a filter F5 for capturing dust. Air can be supplied to the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 at the required time via the air supply pipe 40.
The operation of the heater 39, the circulation blower B5, the evaporator 35, the pump 42, and the solenoid valves V5 to V7 and V10 is controlled by the control device 15.
In a state where the container 31 containing the hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied to the position of the other end 41B of the liquid supply pipe 41 and the other end 41B is immersed in the hydrogen peroxide solution in the container 31 (see FIG. 6). When the pump 42 and the evaporator 35 are operated, the hydrogen peroxide solution in the container 31 is supplied to the evaporator 35 via the liquid supply pipe 41, so that hydrogen peroxide gas G is generated in the evaporator 35. It has become like.
When the solenoid valves V5 and V6 are opened and the circulation blower B5 is operated in the state where the hydrogen peroxide gas G is generated by the evaporator 35 in this way, the circulation blower B5 is operated via the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 and the filter F3. The hydrogen peroxide gas G is supplied to the filling chamber 5, and the hydrogen peroxide gas G supplied into the filling chamber 5 is recovered in the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 via the filter F4 and the other end 34B. That is, the hydrogen peroxide gas G is circulated and supplied to the filling chamber 5 via the gas supply / discharge pipe 34. The filters F3 and F4 capture dust and are decontaminated by the passing hydrogen peroxide gas G in the same manner as the above-mentioned filters F1 and F2.
As described above, when the hydrogen peroxide gas G is supplied to the filling chamber 5, the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 is heated to a required temperature by the heater 39. Therefore, the hydrogen peroxide gas G vaporized by the evaporator 35 can be supplied to the filling chamber 5 without being condensed in the supply / discharge pipe 34.
The filling chamber 5 is provided with a pressure gauge 43 for measuring the pressure P2 inside the filling chamber 5, and the pressure in the filling chamber 5 measured by the pressure gauge 43 is constantly transmitted to the control device 15. There is.
The control device 15 supplies air to the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 by controlling the opening / closing operation of the electromagnetic valve V7 of the gas discharge pipe 38 and the electromagnetic valve V10 of the air supply pipe 40 at the time of decontamination and the preparation stage before the decontamination. Air is supplied from the pipe 40 and the gas in the gas supply pipe 34 is discharged from the gas discharge pipe 38. As a result, the pressure in the filling chamber 5 can be adjusted to the required pressure P2 via the gas supply / discharge pipe 34. When the pressure is adjusted in this way, the hydrogen peroxide gas G discharged from the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 to the outside through the gas discharge pipe 38 is detoxified by passing through the catalyst S3. Further, the air introduced from the air supply pipe 40 to the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 is adapted to capture dust by the filter F5.
An air supply pipe 36 for supplying air is arranged on the upper side of the filling chamber 5, and the end portion 36A of the air supply pipe 36 communicates with the filling chamber 5 via the filter F3. A supply air blower B6 for supplying air toward the filling chamber 5 is provided in the middle of the air supply pipe 36, and a solenoid valve V8 is provided on the downstream side thereof. The operation of the air supply blower B6 and the solenoid valve V8 is controlled by the control device 15.
On the other hand, an air discharge pipe 37 is arranged on the lower side of the filling chamber 5, and the end portion 37A of the air discharge pipe 37 is connected to the filling chamber 5 via the filter F4 arranged at the bottom of the filling chamber 5. Communicating. An exhaust blower B7 is provided in the middle of the air discharge pipe 37, and a solenoid valve V9 and a catalyst S4 for detoxifying hydrogen peroxide gas G are sequentially provided between the exhaust blower B7 and the filter F4. .. The operation of the exhaust blower B7 and the solenoid valve V9 is controlled by the control device 15.
The work room decontamination device 14 is configured as described above, and by condensing the hydrogen peroxide gas G supplied by the work room decontamination device 14 in the filling chamber 5, the inside of the filling chamber 5 is wet decontaminated. You can do it.

In the above configuration, in the article processing system 1 of the present embodiment, first, the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 are subjected to preparatory work before decontamination, and then both chambers 4 and 5 are subjected to hydrogen peroxide gas G. The decontamination is performed at the same time under different conditions, and then the filling device 11 fills the container 2 with the filling liquid in the filling chamber 5.
That is, FIG. 5 shows a preparatory stage before decontamination. In this preparatory stage, the shutter 17 is in the closed position of the rising end and covers the opening 3B, and is inside the expansion packing 18. Compressed air is supplied and the expansion packing 18 is in close contact with the shutter 17 (see also FIGS. 2 to 4). Therefore, the communication between the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 is cut off.
Before moving the shutter 17 to the closed position, the operator removes the gripper 12A of the delivery wheel 12 so that the shutter 17 and the gripper 12A do not interfere with each other.
The hydrogen peroxide container 31 is not supplied to the position of the other end 28B of the liquid supply pipe 28 of the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13, and the pump 29 and the evaporator 23 are not operated. Hydrogen peroxide gas G is not generated at 23.
Further, the solenoid valves V1 and V2 are opened, and the air supply blower B1, the exhaust blower B2, and the dehumidifier 27 are operated. The solenoid valves V3 and V4 are in a closed state, and the supply air blower B3 and the exhaust blower B4 are not operated either. Therefore, air is supplied into the sterilization chamber 4 through the gas supply pipe 21 and the filter F1, and the air in the sterilization chamber 4 is discharged through the filter F2 and the gas discharge pipe 22. That is, dehumidified air is supplied to the sterilization chamber 4, and the pressure P1 in the sterilization chamber 4 is transmitted to the control device 15 by the pressure gauge 32. The pressure P1 in the sterilization chamber 4 in this state is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by controlling the operation of the supply air blower B1 and the exhaust blower B2 by the control device 15.
When the humidity of the gas supply pipe 21, the sterilization chamber 4, and the gas discharge pipe 22 is detected by a humidity detection sensor (not shown) in this state, the control device 15 is in the sterilization chamber. It is judged that the preparation stage work of 4 is completed.
On the other hand, in the work room decontamination device 14, the hydrogen peroxide solution container 31 is not supplied to the position of the other end 41B of the liquid supply pipe 41, and the pump 42 and the evaporator 35 are not operated. , Hydrogen peroxide gas G is not generated.
The solenoid valves V8 and V9 are in a closed state, and the air supply blower B6 and the exhaust blower B7 are not operated either. On the other hand, the solenoid valves V5 and V6 of the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34, the solenoid valves V10 of the air supply pipe 40, and the solenoid valve V7 of the gas discharge pipe 38 are opened and the heater 39 is operated. By operating the circulation blower B5 in this state, the outside air is taken in from the air supply pipe 40 and the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 and the filling chamber 5 are circulated.
In the preparatory stage shown in FIG. 5, the pressure P2 in the filling chamber 5 is sterilized by controlling the opening / closing operation of the solenoid valve V7 of the gas discharge pipe 38 and the solenoid valve V10 of the air supply pipe 40 by the control device 15. Adjust to a predetermined pressure lower than the internal pressure PI.
Then, when it is detected by a temperature detection sensor (not shown) that the temperature of the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 has reached a predetermined temperature (for example, 50 to 60 ° C.) in this state, the control device 15 completes the preparation stage work of the filling chamber 5. Judge that it was done.
When the control device 15 determines that the preparation stage of the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 is completed, the control device 15 shifts to the decontamination work shown in FIG.

At the time of decontamination shown in FIG. 6, first, in the closed state where the shutter 17 covers the opening 3B, the supply of compressed air to the expansion packing 18 is stopped, so that the expansion packing 18 contracts and the shutter. A gap 19 is formed between the gap 19 (see FIG. 4), and the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 communicate with each other through the gap 19 and the opening 3B.
At the stage of performing the decontamination work, the humidity of the gas supply pipe 21, the sterilization chamber 4, and the gas discharge pipe 22 of the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13 is suppressed to a predetermined humidity or less, and the pressure P1 (for example, 80 to 80) in the sterilization chamber 4 is suppressed. 14 Pa) is maintained at a pressure higher than the pressure P2 (for example, 50 to 110 Pa) in the filling chamber 5. The temperature in the sterilization chamber 4 is normal temperature. Then, the solenoid valves V1 and V2 are continuously opened from the above preparation stage, and the dehumidifier 27, the air supply blower B1 and the exhaust blower B2 are operated. Further, the solenoid valves V3 and V4 are in a closed state, and the operation of the supply air blower B3 and the exhaust blower B4 is also stopped.
In this state, the evaporator 23 is operated, and the container 31 containing the hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied to the position of the end 28B of the liquid supply pipe 28 of the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13, and the end 28B is inside the container 31. Immerse in hydrogen peroxide solution.
After that, by operating the pump 29, the hydrogen peroxide solution in the container 31 is supplied to the evaporator 23 via the liquid supply pipe 28, and the hydrogen peroxide solution is vaporized by the evaporator 23 to cause hydrogen peroxide gas. Generate G. The generated hydrogen peroxide gas G passes through the gas supply pipe 21 and is supplied to the sterilization chamber 4 via the filter F1, and the hydrogen peroxide gas G in the sterilization chamber 4 passes through the filter F2 to the gas discharge pipe 22. Is sent and discharged to the outside through the catalyst S1.
The sterilization chamber decontamination device 13 of this embodiment maintains the humidity of the gas supply pipe 21, the sterilization chamber 4, and the gas discharge pipe 22 at a low humidity, and reduces the amount of hydrogen peroxide solution sent to the evaporator 23. By setting the flow rate (for example, 1 to 15 g / min), the supplied hydrogen peroxide gas G does not condense in the sterilization chamber 4, so that the inside of the sterilization chamber 4 is dry decontaminated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the titanium irradiation window 7 from being damaged by the condensed hydrogen peroxide gas G.
On the other hand, in the work room decontamination device 14, the inside of the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater 39 at the stage of performing the decontamination work, and the pressure P2 in the filling chamber 5 is higher than the pressure P1 in the sterilization chamber 4. Is also maintained at low pressure. Further, the temperature in the filling chamber 5 is normal temperature. Then, the solenoid valves V5 and V6 are continuously opened from the above preparation stage, and the circulation blowers B5 and the evening 39 are operated. Then, the pressure in the filling chamber 5 is adjusted to P2 by controlling the solenoid valves V7 and V10. Further, the solenoid valves V8 and V9 are in a closed state, and the operation of the supply air blower B6 and the exhaust blower B7 is also stopped.
In this state, the evaporator 35 is operated, and the container 31 containing the hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied to the position of the end 41B of the liquid supply pipe 41 of the work room decontamination device 14, and the end 41 is inside the container 31. Immerse in hydrogen peroxide solution.
After that, by operating the pump 42, the hydrogen peroxide solution in the container 31 is supplied to the evaporator 35 via the liquid supply pipe 41, and the hydrogen peroxide solution is vaporized by the evaporator 25 to cause hydrogen peroxide gas. Generate G. In this embodiment, the amount of hydrogen peroxide solution sent to the evaporator 35 by the pump 42 is set to a high flow rate (for example, 15 to 70 g / min). The generated hydrogen peroxide gas G passes through the gas supply / discharge pipe 34 and is supplied to the filling chamber 5 via the filter F3, and the hydrogen peroxide gas G in the filling chamber 5 passes through the gas supply / discharge pipe F4. It returns to 34 and circulates in the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 and the filling chamber 5.
Since the work room decontamination device 14 heats the temperature of the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34 to 50 to 60 degrees, the hydrogen peroxide gas G vaporized by the evaporator 35 does not condense in the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34. When it is supplied to the sterilization chamber 4 at room temperature, it will condense, and the inside of the filling chamber 5 will be wet decontaminated by the condensed hydrogen peroxide gas G.
Further, the control device 15 controls the operation of the air supply blower B1 and the exhaust blower B2 based on the signal from the pressure gauge 32 while the sterilization chamber 4 is dry decontaminated and the filling chamber 5 is wet decontaminated at the same time. The pressure in the sterilization chamber 4 is controlled to be maintained at P1, and the operation of the electromagnetic valve V7 of the gas discharge pipe 38 and the electromagnetic valve V10 of the air supply pipe 40 is controlled and filled based on the signal from the pressure gauge 43. By controlling the pressure in the chamber 5 to be maintained at P2, the pressure P1 in the sterilization chamber 4 is constantly controlled to be higher than the pressure P2 in the filling chamber 5 during the decontamination work. , From the sterilization chamber 4 with high pressure to the filling chamber 5 with low pressure through the gap 19 between the shutter 17 and the expansion packing 18 and the opening 3B (see FIGS. 2 and 4), hydrogen peroxide on the sterilization chamber 4 side. The gas G flows in, and the expansion packing 18 itself is also decontaminated.
As described above, in this embodiment, during the decontamination work, the sterilization chamber 4 is controlled to have a more positive pressure than the filling chamber 5, and in a state where they are communicated with each other, the sterilization chamber 4 is used by the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13. Is dry decontaminated and the inside of the filling chamber 5 is wet decontaminated.

After the decontamination of the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 is completed as described above, an aeration operation is performed to discharge the hydrogen peroxide gas G, and then, as shown in FIG. 7, the container 2 is filled with the filling liquid. Move on to work.
In the filling work stage, the shutter 7 is lowered to the open position of the lowering end to open the opening 3B of the partition wall 3A, so that the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 communicate with each other through the opening 3B.
The sterilization chamber decontamination device 13 closes the solenoid valve V1 of the gas supply pipe 21, and stops the operations of the air supply blower B1, the dehumidifier 27, the evaporator 23, and the pump 29. Then, the solenoid valve V2 of the gas discharge pipe 22 is closed, and the operation of the exhaust blower B2 is stopped. Further, the solenoid valve V3 of the air supply pipe 24 and the solenoid valve V4 of the air discharge pipe 25 are opened, and the supply air blower B3 and the exhaust blower B4 are operated.
On the other hand, in the work room decontamination device 14, the solenoid valve V5 and the solenoid valve V6 of the gas supply / exhaust pipe 34, the solenoid valve V10 of the air supply pipe 40, and the solenoid valve V7 of the gas discharge pipe 38 are closed and the circulation blower B5. , The operation of the evaporator 35, the pump 42, and the heater 39 is stopped. Then, the solenoid valve V8 of the air supply pipe 36 and the solenoid valve V9 of the air discharge pipe 37 are opened, and the supply air blower B6 and the exhaust blower B7 are operated.
Further, the control device 15 controls the operation of the air supply blower B3 and the exhaust blower B4 of the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13, the air supply blower B6 and the exhaust blower B7 of the work room decontamination device 14, and is different from the time of decontamination. The pressure P2 in the filling chamber 5 is controlled to be higher than the pressure P1 in the sterilization chamber 4.
Further, when starting the filling work, the worker hands over the gripper 12A, which has been removed in the preparation stage and the decontamination stage in advance, and attaches the gripper 12A to the outer peripheral portion of the main body portion of the wheel 12 via a work glove.
When the above preparation is completed, the container 2 is sterilized by the electron beam EB, and the filling liquid is filled in the container 2 after the sterilization.
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, when the container 2 is supplied and held by the gripper 6A of the transport wheel 6 by the supply device of the container 2 (not shown), the container held by the gripper 6A as the transport wheel 6 rotates. 2 passes in front of the irradiation window 7. At that time, since the electron beam EB is continuously irradiated from the irradiation window 7 toward the container 2, the inside and outside of the container 2 are sterilized by the electron beam EB.
The container 2 sterilized by the electron beam EB is transported to the delivery position A of the opening 3B of the partition wall 3A as the transport wheel 6 rotates. Then, at the delivery position A, the gripper 12A of the delivery hole 12 enters the sterilization chamber 4 through the opened opening 3B, receives the container 2 from the gripper 6A of the transfer wheel 6, and carries it into the filling chamber 5. ..
When the gripper 12A of the delivery wheel 12 receives the container 2 from the gripper 6A of the transfer wheel 6 at the delivery position A, the container 2 is then transferred, and the container 2 is sequentially received by the gripper 11A of the filling device 11 at the supply position B. hand over.
When the container 2 is supplied from the gripper 12A of the delivery wheel 12 to each gripper 11A of the filling device 11 and held, the container 2 held by the gripper 11A is filled with the filling liquid (filling nozzle 11B) as the filling device 11 rotates. Chemical solution) is to be filled. After that, the container 2 filled with the filling liquid is discharged to the outside of the filling chamber 5 after the cap is attached by a capper (not shown) at an adjacent position.
In this way, the container 2 is sterilized by the electron beam EB in the sterilization chamber 4, and then the filling liquid (chemical solution) is filled in the container 2 in the aseptic filling chamber 5.

As described above, in the article processing system 1 of the present embodiment, the sterilization chamber 4 and the filling chamber 5 are communicated with each other through the gap 19 between the shutter 17 and the expansion packing 18 and the opening 3B, and the pressure P1 of the sterilization chamber 4 is used. The sterilization chamber 4 is dry decontaminated by the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13 and the filling chamber 5 is wet decontaminated by the work room decontamination device 14 in a state where the pressure is higher than the pressure P2 of the filling chamber 5. It has become. At that time, the expansion packing 18 itself is also decontaminated at the same time by the hydrogen peroxide gas G flowing through the gap 19. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is not necessary to re-decontaminate the expansion packing 18 provided at the position of the opening 3B, and the time required for the decontamination work including both chambers 4 and 5 can be shortened.
Further, since the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13 can supply the hydrogen peroxide gas G to the sterilization chamber 4 in a non-condensed state and dry decontaminate the inside of the sterilization chamber 4, a titanium irradiation window provided in the sterilization chamber 4 can be used. 7 can be prevented from being damaged by the condensed hydrogen peroxide gas G.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this second embodiment, the filling chamber 5 in the first embodiment is divided into two by another partition wall 3D, thereby between one partition wall 3A and the other partition wall 3D. The intermediate chamber 10 is formed. The delivery wheel 12 is arranged in the intermediate chamber 10. In the second embodiment, the second partition wall 3D is also provided with an opening 3E through which the container 2 passes, and the shutter 17, the elevating cylinder 16 and the expansion are provided on the wall surface of the opening 3E on the filling chamber 5 side. A packing 18 is provided. An opening 3B is formed in the partition wall 3A on the sterilization chamber 4 side, but the partition wall 3A is not provided with a shutter. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the corresponding members are assigned the same member number.
In this second embodiment, the sterilization chamber 4 and the intermediate chamber 10 are dry-decontaminated by the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13, and the filling chamber 5 is wet-decontaminated by the work room decontamination device 14. ing.
During the decontamination work of the second embodiment, the pressure P1 of the sterilization chamber 4 and the pressure P3 of the intermediate chamber 10 are made the same, while the pressures P1 and P3 of both chambers 4 and 10 are the pressures of the filling chamber 5. It is controlled to a positive pressure rather than P2. Further, during the filling operation, the pressure balance of each chamber is controlled so that P1 <P3 <P2. The pressure balance may be P1> P3 <P2.
In such a second embodiment, the same actions and effects as those in the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the intermediate chamber 10 is provided in the housing 3 by providing the partition walls 3A and 3D at two locations as in the second embodiment. However, the shutter 17, the elevating cylinder 16, and the expansion packing 18 are arranged on the intermediate chamber 10 side of the partition wall 3A as in the first embodiment. Only the opening 3E is formed in the other partition wall 3D, and the shutter is not arranged there.
In this third embodiment, the sterilization chamber 4 is dry-decontaminated by the sterilization chamber decontamination device 13, and the intermediate chamber 10 and the filling chamber 5 are wet-decontaminated by the work room decontamination device 14. ing.
At the time of the decontamination work of the third embodiment, the pressure P2 of the filling chamber 5 and the pressure P3 of the intermediate chamber 10 are made the same, while the pressure P1 of the sterilization chamber 4 is adjusted from the pressures P1 and P3 of both chambers 4 and 10. Also controlled to positive pressure. Further, during the filling operation, the pressure balance of each chamber 4, 10 and 5 is controlled so that P1 <P3 <P2. The pressure balance may be P1> P3 <P2.
In such a third embodiment, the same actions and effects as those in the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the expansion packing 18 to be expanded / contracted is used to seal the space between the opening 3B and the shutter 17, but the following configuration may be used. That is, a general sealing member is adopted instead of the expansion packing 18, and this sealing member is provided on either the shutter 17 or the partition wall 3A. Then, by moving the shutter 17 itself to the partition wall 3A side, the shutter 17, the seal member, and the partition wall 3A may be brought into close contact with each other.
Further, in the preparatory stage before decontamination described above, it is not always necessary to seal the shutter 17, and even if there is a gap, the preparatory work before decontamination described above can be performed.
Further, instead of using the elevating cylinder 16, the elevating operation of the shutter 17 may be performed by an on-site worker.

1 ‥ Article processing system 2 ‥ Container (article)
3A ‥ Partition wall 3B ‥ Opening 4 ‥ Sterilization room 5 ‥ Filling room (working room)
7 ... Irradiation window 8 ... Electron beam irradiation device 13 ... Sterilization room decontamination device 14 ... Work room decontamination device EB ... Electron beam G ... Hydrogen peroxide gas

Claims (4)

A sterilization chamber for sterilizing the article, a working room for performing necessary processing on the article sterilized in the sterilization chamber, and an opening through which the article can pass are formed between the sterilization chamber and the working room. Working with the partition wall, the sterilization room decontamination device that decontaminates the sterilization room with hydrogen peroxide gas, the work room decontamination device that decontaminates the work room with hydrogen peroxide gas, and the sterilization room decontamination device. Equipped with a control device that controls the operation of the room decontamination device,
An irradiation window for passing an electron beam to irradiate an article in the sterilization chamber is provided in the sterilization chamber, and an electron beam irradiation device for irradiating the article in the sterilization chamber with an electron beam through the irradiation window is provided, and further, the partition is provided. The sterilization chamber and the work room are communicated with each other through the opening in the wall.
In a state where the pressure of the sterilization chamber is higher than that of the work chamber, the hydrogen peroxide gas is supplied to the sterilization chamber without being condensed by the sterilization chamber decontamination device, and the sterilization chamber is dry-decontaminated at the same time. An article processing system characterized in that hydrogen peroxide gas is supplied to the work room so as to be condensed by a room decontamination device and the work room is wet-decontaminated. It is provided with a shutter that covers the opening with a gap from the partition wall so that hydrogen peroxide gas can pass through, and a drive mechanism that moves the shutter.
When decontaminating the sterilization chamber and the work room, the shutter is moved to cover the opening, and hydrogen peroxide gas from the sterilization chamber decontamination device is applied between the shutter and the partition wall. The article processing system according to claim 1, wherein the product is passed through and decontaminated. An intermediate chamber is arranged between the sterilization chamber and the work chamber via a plurality of partition walls, and the intermediate chamber is dry-decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide gas by the sterilization chamber decontamination device. The article processing system according to claim 1 or 2. An intermediate chamber is arranged between the sterilization chamber and the work chamber via a plurality of partition walls, and the intermediate chamber is wet-decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide gas by the work chamber decontamination device. The article processing system according to claim 1 or 2.

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