JPH01167031A - Method of sterilizing packaging container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contemplate simplicity and compactness of a charging apparatus and to eliminate a necessity of sterilizing the inside of the container in the charging apparatus, by dropping a small amount of germicide into a molded container and then sealing the container in advance of delivery thereof. CONSTITUTION:In container manufacturing factory, a fine amount of germicide such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is dropped through a nozzle 2 into a container C which is then closed with a cap S by means of a caper 3. The dropped germi cide evaporates in the container so that the inside surface thereof is sterilized. The containers C are received in a packaging box for delivery to dealing compa nies where the box is dispackaged and the respective containers are removed out of the box, using a takeoff device 11. The container are then placed on a conveyor 13 to transport into sterile chamber 10 in which the outside of the container is sterilized. After the cap S is removed, the container is transported just below a charging tank 16 and filled with a given amount of contents such as juice, cola and the like through a charging nozzle 17. The filled container is again closed with the cap by means of capper 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing packaging containers such as bed bottles.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, plastic containers such as PET bottles have come into widespread use as simple packaging containers for various foodstuffs. Generally, these packaging containers are molded at a packaging container manufacturing factory, and the packaging containers manufactured at the factory are packed and transported to another location, where they are filled with contents such as juice, cola, etc. in an aseptic condition. Before the contents are filled into the container, the inner and outer surfaces of the container are sterilized in a sterile room.The inner and outer surfaces of the container can be sterilized by spraying room temperature or heated aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution inside and outside the container, or using peroxide. This was done by immersing a container in an aqueous hydrogen solution and then blowing hot air to dry the container.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, especially when sterilizing the inside of a container, not only must the sterilizer be completely discharged from the container, but also a process of drying the inside of the container is required, which not only complicates the sterilization equipment but also increases the size of the filling machine itself. There was a drawback.

In view of these points, the present invention can simplify the sterilization device, and
The sterilizing and drying device inside the container can be omitted from the filling machine itself, making it possible to downsize the filling machine itself and easily sterilizing the inside of the container at a container manufacturing factory, making it possible to supply containers with internal sterilizer to juice sales companies, etc. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for sterilizing containers.

[Means for solving problems]

Therefore, the present invention drips a small amount of sterilizing agent into the packaging container from its entrance to seal the entrance, and sterilizes the outer surface of the container with the sterilizing agent in a sterile room before filling the packaging material with the contents.
Thereafter, the container entrance was opened and the contents were filled.

[Effect]

After molding at a container manufacturing factory, a small amount of sterilizing agent is dripped into the container from its entrance, and the entrance is sealed with a temporary seal or lid. The sealed container is supplied to a filling and selling company for juice, cola, etc., and the outer surface of the container is first sterilized with a disinfectant in a sterile room before filling. After the outer surface is sterilized, the temporary seal or lid is removed and the contents are filled, and after filling, the container entrance is sealed by the lid.

In this manner, if a small amount of sterilizing agent is dropped into the container after the container is formed, the sterilizing agent evaporates within the container and sterilizes the inner surface of the container.

Therefore, the sterilization and drying process inside the container can be omitted before filling.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, in the container manufacturing factory F1, for example,
Containers C, which are bed bottles, are sequentially transported along the transport path 1 after being molded. Nozzle 2 is located above the middle part of conveyor 1.
A small amount of a disinfectant, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), is dripped into the container C from the nozzle 2 through the inlet of the container C.Next, the inlet of the container C into which the disinfectant has been dropped is IIS is covered by capper 3.

At this time, the container C is held down by the holding member 4 and its rotation is stopped. The disinfectant dropped into the container C evaporates within the container, and the inner surface of the container is sterilized by the vapor. The dropping amount of disinfectant is 1 for H2O2, 1 μm or more per container1
ml or less. Container C may be sealed with a lid, or may be temporarily sealed by other means. Container C with the lid covered may be packed inside an outer box such as cardboard and used for juice, etc. The product is sold to a sales company, and the filling process there is carried out in a sterile room 10. Before filling, the container C in the outer box is placed on the conveyor 13 by the unloading device 11. The containers C on the conveyor 13 are arranged in a line by appropriate means and sent into the sterile chamber 10, where the outer surfaces of the containers are sterilized. To sterilize the outer surface of the container, for example, chlorine water is sprayed onto the spray device 1.
4 by spraying on the outside of the container.

A decapper 15 removes the lid S from the entrance of the container C whose outer surface has been sterilized. Next, the container C is sent directly below the filling nozzle 17 of the filling tank 16, and a predetermined amount of the contents such as juice or cola is filled into the container C. Thereafter, a lid S is attached to the entrance of the container C using a capper 18. The lid S removed by the decapper 15 is sent to this capper 18 by appropriate means, and this lid is reused. The filled container C sealed with the lid S is packed and transported to each sales location.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides H2
O. By dropping a small amount of sterilizing agent into the container and sealing the inlet before shipping, the filling machine does not need to sterilize the inside of the container, making it easy to sterilize the inside of the container before shipping, and the structure of the filling machine This has the effect that it can be easily miniaturized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure is a schematic process explanatory diagram of the method of the present invention. 1...Conveyance path, 3.18...Cad par, 14...
- Spraying device, 15...decapper, 17...filling nozzle.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Drop a small amount of sterilizer into the packaging container from its entrance to seal the entrance, sterilize the outer surface of the container with the sterilizer in a sterile room before filling the packaging material with the contents, and then open the container entrance. 1. A method for sterilizing a packaging container, characterized in that the container is filled with the contents.