JPH0117931B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is designed to supply containers such as cups for storing foods, etc. in an aseptic state to an aseptic filling machine for aseptically packaging various foods. related to the equipment used.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, aseptic filling machines include in-line sterilization and filling machines, in which cups are fed into a filling machine in the usual manner, sterilized in the machine, and then immediately filled with food. . Sterilization methods in this case include ultraviolet sterilization and a method in which hydrogen peroxide is sprayed onto a cup.

However, UV rays have the disadvantage that sterilization is incomplete. In other words, if it is shaped like a cup, there will be a shadow part against the ultraviolet rays, and if dirt adheres to it, that part will become a shadow, making it impossible to sterilize, and it will not be effective against mold. There are problems such as low

Furthermore, when using hydrogen peroxide, if the cup is not sufficiently dried after sterilization, it will remain and pose a safety problem.

In this way, in-line sterilization and filling machines perform filling immediately after sterilization, so there is no contamination by bacteria during that time, which is an advantage. It is difficult to

On the other hand, conventional offline sterilization and filling machines are also used.

This involves preparing sterilized or clean cups off-line outside the filling machine and feeding them into the filling machine. In this case, there is a wide range of sterilization methods to choose from, and not only sterilization methods that can be used with in-line filling machines but also offline sterilization methods can be used.

An example of this offline sterilization method is:
Examples include ethylene oxide sterilization, gamma ray sterilization, and heat sterilization. Since these methods require a long sterilization time, it is economically difficult to use them in an in-line sterilization-filling machine, but they are easy to use in an offline sterilization-filling machine, and they have the advantage of ensuring the sterilization effect of packaging containers.

However, in the case of an off-line sterilization-filling machine, there is a drawback that, for example, bacteria are likely to be mixed in between the time the cup is sterilized and the cup is fed to the filling machine, resulting in low safety.

To overcome this drawback, a back-in-box aseptic filling system has been used. This is done offline by performing ethylene oxide sterilization, gamma ray sterilization, etc. on the back-in-box inner bag, and then introducing only the spout of this inner bag into the sterile chamber of the aseptic filling machine. is sterilized with chlorine water. However, the sterilization system is complicated,
It is difficult to apply it to various packaging forms.

[Purpose] The present invention is to solve the problem of low ability to maintain container sterility in offline sterilization and filling machines, and to reliably and easily prevent contamination with bacteria from the time the container is sterilized until it is supplied to the filling machine. The present invention provides a container supply device that can perform the following operations.

[Structure] The container feeding device according to the present invention includes a transport box that stores stacked containers in a sealed state, and an outlet of this transport box that is isolated from the outside air and connected to a container inlet equipped with a sliding lid of an aseptic filling machine. A sterilizer having a communication room and introducing heated steam into the communication room to sterilize the outlet of the transport box and the container equipped with the sliding lid of the aseptic filling machine, After the communication chamber is sterilized, the container inlet of the filling machine is opened in a state where it is isolated from the outside air and the container is dropped into the aseptic filling machine. do.

1 and 2, the container supply device for an aseptic filling machine according to the present invention includes a transport box 2 in which a large number of containers 1 are stacked and stored, and an outlet of the transport box 2 connected to an aseptic filling machine 3.
The container is equipped with a sterilizer 4 connected to the container inlet of the container.

The transport box 2 is used to store the sterilized or cleaned container 1 in a sealed aseptic state, and is preferably made of a material that does not allow the contamination or proliferation of bacteria, such as metal or plastic. It is best to use one that does not easily cause pinholes.

The outlet of the transport box 2 is covered with a lid 6 via an elastic seal ring 5. The lid 6 is fixed to the seal ring 5 by a screw 7 or the like, and can be removed from the through hole 2a on the side of the transport box 2 in this state.

Note that ethylene oxide sterilization and gamma ray sterilization can be used as means for sterilizing the container 1 in the sealed transport box 2. In the case of ethylene oxide sterilization, it is necessary to diffuse the ethylene oxide gas into the sealed transport box 2, so the transport box 2 is provided with an inlet through which the ethylene oxide gas can pass without allowing bacteria to pass through. For example, a part of the transport box 2 is hollowed out and sterile paper used for medical packaging is pasted thereon.
Furthermore, when carrying out gamma ray sterilization, if the transport box 2 is strongly made of metal with high specific gravity, the penetrating power of gamma rays will be weakened and efficient sterilization will not be possible, so it is better to use as thin a metal plate as possible. There is also a method of introducing heated steam into the sealed transport box 2. In this case, the container 1 needs to be made of a material that does not deform even when it comes into contact with the heated steam, such as polypropylene, heat-resistant vinyl chloride, etc. Good. Alternatively, it is also possible to perform ultraviolet sterilization or hydrogen peroxide sterilization at a factory where the container 1 is manufactured, and then place the container in a sterile transport box 2 in a clean room and close the lid 6. Furthermore, if the container 1 is made by thermoforming, sterilization will be performed by heating during thermoforming, so that the product will be in a sterile state when it is completed. Therefore, by immediately packing the product into the transport box 2 in a sterile state, sterility can be maintained with high reliability. Therefore, if the process from thermoforming to packaging is carried out carefully in a clean room, there is no need for special sterilization.

On the other hand, the sterilizer 4 has a communication chamber 9 that connects the container outlet of the transport box 2 and the container inlet of the aseptic filling machine 3 and is sealed by the lid 6 and the slide lid 8. That is, the communication chamber 9 simultaneously protects the lid 6 of the transport box 2, which is attached in an inverted state so as to seal the upper part, and the slide lid 8, which is installed at the container entrance of the aseptic filling machine 3 and which closes the lower part, from the outside air. It is intended to be shut off and sealed.

In the communication chamber 9, which is sealed in this way, there is a passage 1.
Heated steam is introduced through 0 to sterilize the inner wall surface of the communication chamber 9 and the outer surfaces of the lid 6 and the slide lid 8 that are in contact with the outside air. After sterilization, the lid 6 is pulled out as shown in the arrow, the slide lid 8 is opened as shown in the arrow, and the communication chamber 9 is closed off from the outside air and the transport box 2 is opened.
The inside communicates with the inside of the aseptic filling machine 8, and at this time, the container 1 falls and enters the aseptic filling machine 3.

The aseptic filling machine 3 is of a known structure, and feeds a large number of supplied containers 1 one by one horizontally.
The structure is such that food is injected through a filling nozzle 11, and after the mouth is closed with a container sealing part 12, the container is sent to the next step.

The operation of the container feeding device for an aseptic filling machine described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.

First, as shown in Fig. 3, the transport box 2 is inverted,
The lid 6 is placed over the communication chamber 9 of the sterilizer 4 and sealed. In this state, the container 1 is stored in advance in a downward direction with the mouth facing upward. Further, the container entrance on the side of the aseptic filling machine 3 is closed with a slide lid 8, and the lower part of the communication chamber 9 is sealed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, heated steam is blown into the sealed communication chamber 9 from the passage 10 to sterilize the outer surfaces of the lid 6 and slide lid 8 that have been exposed to the outside air, and the inner wall surface of the communication chamber 9. .

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the lid 6 and the slide lid 8 are opened, and the container 1 is dropped into the aseptic filling machine 3. When the transport box 2 is empty, as shown in FIG. 6, the slide lid is closed to prevent bacteria from entering the aseptic filling machine 3.

Through the above steps, containers are supplied from the transport box 2 to the aseptic filling machine 3 in an aseptic state.

In addition, in the above process, since the slide lid 8 is repeatedly opened and closed, it is preferable that at least the side facing the inside of the aseptic filling machine 3 is kept within the sterile room system and not brought into contact with the outside air. Further, by preventing at least the inner surface of the lid 6 of the transport box 2 from coming into contact with the outside air, the transport box 2 can be used repeatedly without being sterilized. In particular, in FIG. 5, when the lid 6 and the slide lid 8 are opened, it is preferable to prevent them from coming into contact with the outside air to prevent bacteria from entering the sterile room system. In addition, the container 1 in the transport box 2
It is possible to further sterilize the container 1 after transferring it to the aseptic filling machine 3, or if the container 1 is made in a clean factory or clean room, there may be no need to sterilize it because almost no bacteria can be seen.

On the other hand, the aseptic filling machine 3 can handle all foods for which aseptic packaging is advantageous, such as neutral foods such as milk and cream, acidic foods such as orange juice, and alcoholic foods such as sake. can. In the case of neutral foods, all microorganisms such as bacteria, mold, and yeast cause spoilage. This requires quite advanced techniques such as sterility when introducing the product into the body, which is not easy even with the present invention.

However, when targeting acidic foods, normal bacteria cannot grow, so only mold and yeast need to be considered, and aseptic operation and sterility maintenance are easy.
Food safety will improve.

Furthermore, in the case of alcoholic foods, normal bacteria, mold, and yeast cannot propagate; for example, the only type of bacteria that spoils Japanese sake is Hiotachi bacteria, so if you prevent this contamination, you can prevent spoilage. Therefore, alcoholic beverages are usually filled into hot-filled containers. However, if the sake is sterilized at high temperature for a short period of time, and the packaging container is prepared aseptically, or if the container is heated and sterilized separately before filling, the change in the sake caused by the heat applied during hot filling can be minimized. This allows the production of products with good quality. In addition, Hiotachi bacteria inhabits sake breweries and places where sake is handled, and it is almost impossible to survive in the general environment. Therefore, since there is no fire bacteria in the factory that manufactures packaging containers, after the container 1 is made at the factory, it is immediately sealed in a transport box 2 and transferred to an aseptic filling machine 3 installed at a sake brewery.
If the filling is carried out by the apparatus of the present invention using the container 1, it becomes possible to fill the sake aseptically without sterilizing the container 1 in particular. It is suitable for supplying to the aseptic filling machine 3 without being contaminated.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, containers in a transport box can be reliably fed into an aseptic filling machine in an aseptic state with a simple configuration, and highly safe packaged foods can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a transport box storing containers used in the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of a container feeding device for an aseptic filling machine according to the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 1... Container, 2... Transport box, 3... Aseptic filling machine, 4... Sterilizer, 5... Seal ring, 6...
...Lid, 7...Screw, 8...Sliding lid, 9...Communication chamber, 10...Heating steam passage.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It has a transport box for storing stacked containers in a sealed state, and a communication room that blocks the outlet of this transport box from the outside air and connects it to the container inlet equipped with a sliding lid of an aseptic filling machine, and this communication room has a a sterilizer that introduces heated steam to disinfect an outlet of the transport box and an inlet of a container equipped with a sliding lid of an aseptic filling machine; A container supply device for an aseptic filling machine, characterized in that after sterilization, the container is opened in a state where it is isolated from the outside air and the container is dropped into the aseptic filling machine.