JPH0518253Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] <Field of industrial application> The present invention is a sterile packaging machine that has various parts that sterilize transported containers, fill them with contents, and seal them in a sterile chamber under constant positive pressure. Regarding improvements.

<Prior Art> The aseptic chamber of an aseptic packaging machine is generally kept in a positive pressure state with respect to the outside air at all times in order to prevent outside air from entering. In order to maintain this positive pressure state, sterile air is blown from above the sterile chamber 1 as shown in FIG. 5, and from the side of the sterile chamber 1 as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

If the container carried into this sterile chamber is completely sterilized,
Although the problem of contamination of the inner surface of the container does not occur, in order to achieve this, it is necessary to sterilize the container for filling before transporting it into the sterile chamber. Therefore, the device becomes larger and more complicated.

Therefore, a container made of sterilized or sterilized material molded in the open air, especially a paper container C with an open top and folded to be sealed, as shown in Figure 2, is transported into the sterile chamber. It was common to sterilize with

The containers were sterilized using hydrogen peroxide, steam, hot air, ultraviolet light, or a combination of these.

However, each process was performed within a sterile chamber while leaving the outside of the container unsterilized.

Therefore, sterile air, which is blown to maintain a positive pressure inside the sterile chamber, flows toward the discharge section where the container is filled with contents and the sealed product is discharged, and the container loading section.

At this time, due to the presence of a transport mechanism consisting of a carrier, a chain, etc. that transports the container, a filling nozzle, and a sealing device inside the sterile chamber, the flow of sterile air is disturbed and dust adhering to the outside of the container is scattered.
There was a risk that the substance could enter the container through the opening.

On the other hand, as a method for sterilizing containers in a sterile chamber, first a sterilizing solution such as hydrogen peroxide or water vapor is sprayed, then hot air is sprayed to dry and sterilize the sterilizing solution, and if necessary, ultraviolet rays are applied. It was common to sterilize by irradiation.

For this reason, especially when the sterile air is blown from the side, the sterile air hits the unsterilized exterior of the container, causing dust and the like to scatter, potentially contaminating the interior of the container.

Further, although the inside of the sterile chamber is sterilized in advance before filling, due to the above-mentioned circumstances, there was a risk of contamination by dust and the like adhering to the outside of the container.

<Problems to be Solved> Therefore, the present invention is a sterilization method that prevents contamination of the inside of the container and the inside of the sterile chamber by the transported container, even if the container is sterilized inside the chamber, which is always in a positive pressure state. The object of the present invention is to provide an aseptic packaging machine equipped with a section.

<Means for solving the problem> The present invention is a paper container that is transported from the molding section of the container, has an open top, and is sealed by folding the top in a sterile chamber that is always kept under positive pressure. In an aseptic packaging machine that is equipped with a sterilizing section, a filling section for contents, and a sealing section at the top, which has a sterilizing mechanism that sprays a sterilizing liquid from the top according to the movement of a conveying mechanism that moves continuously and has carriers arranged at regular intervals. , the portion of the carrier opposite to the conveyance guide is at the height of the body of the container and is separated from the container by a gap, and from the conveyance guide side provided along the conveyance mechanism,
Alternatively, it is a sterile packaging machine characterized by being provided with a holding plate having a U-shaped cross section and movable from below.

As a means for providing a gap between the container, the carrier, and the holding plate, it is sufficient to use a carrier whose inner surface is partially formed with a convex portion so that the inner surface of the carrier and the holding plate partially contacts the container. .

<Function> When the containers sent from the container loading section by the carrier stop at the sterilization section, the holding plate is moved and
If the body of the container is surrounded by the carrier and the holding plate, and a sterilizing liquid is sprayed from above into the gap between the holding plate and the container, the sterilizing liquid mist will be retained in the gap and the outside of the container will be sterilized. .

In addition, when sterilizing and drying with hot air, the outside of the container is cleaned and sterilized by spraying a sterilizing solution such as hydrogen peroxide or steam, so even if there are any bacteria left, they have already been sterilized. Therefore, there is no risk of contaminating the inside of the container or the sterile chamber due to influences from outside the container.

<Examples> Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an aseptic packaging machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom is assembled in the forming section, the top is open, and the top is sealed with a paper This is an aseptic packaging machine that fills and encapsulates liquids (for example, youth, milk, and alcoholic beverages) into containers C in an aseptic atmosphere.

This aseptic packaging machine includes a container forming section 12 and a sterile chamber 13 connected to the container forming section 12 and under a positive pressure state.
3 is provided with a transport mechanism 42 consisting of a chain 41 to which carriers 40 are attached at regular intervals, and a guide 43 along the chain 41.

The molding section 12 has a mandrel 15, and the bottom of the container is molded by this mandrel 15. In addition, the sterile chamber 13 includes a loading section 10.
an external sterilizing section 16 that sterilizes the outside of the container C brought in from the container C; and an internal sterilizing section 17 that sterilizes the inside of the container;
A drying section 18 that dries the sterilizing liquid inside the container and heat-sterilizes it; a filling section 19 that fills the contents such as juice, milk, and alcohol; a heating section 20 that heats the top opening of the container; and the heated opening. It consists of a sealing part 21 which is crimped and sealed. The sterile air blowing section 22 is provided on the opposite side of the carrying-in section 10.

The external sterilizing section 16 and the internal sterilizing section 17 include
Spray nozzles 30 and 31 for spraying a sterilizing liquid are provided, with the spray nozzle 30 being positioned so that the sterilizing liquid is sprayed only on the outside of the container, and the spray nozzle 31 being positioned directly above the opening of the container. It is set in.

Here, the carrier 40 of the transport mechanism 42 is
As shown in FIG. 3, a convex portion 44 is provided that protrudes inward, and the portion opposite to the guide 43 is at the same height as the container body, with a gap 45 separated from the container C. ing.

Further, as shown in the same figure, there is a gap 4 on the outside of the guide 43 at the position of the external sterilization section 16 between the guide 43 and the container.
6, and is the same as the carrier 40,
A holding plate 47 having a U-shaped cross section with a height higher than that is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, this holding plate 47 covers the outside of the carrier 40 on the conveying direction side, and
The guide side has a structure that covers the outside of the guide, and the guide 43
A notch 48 is provided at a height of , and is movable from the guide side toward the container when stopped.

Furthermore, the holding plate 47 is provided not only in the external sterilizing section 16 but also up to the internal sterilizing section 17, so that in the internal sterilizing section 17, the retaining plate 47 is provided not only inside but also outside.
A sterilizing solution may be sprayed at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 4, the holding plate 47 is
A structure may be provided in which a cutout 48 is provided in a portion located in the upper guide, and the structure may be movable up and down.

With the above structure, the external sterilization section 16
When the sterilizing liquid is sprayed from the spray nozzle 30, the sterilizing liquid mist is retained in the gaps 45 and 46 between the container, the carrier 40, and the holding plate 47, and the outside of the container is sterilized.

The sterilizing liquid sprayed from the spray nozzles 30 and 31 may be hydrogen peroxide, water vapor, or a combination of these.

<Effects> Since the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, the container is transported inside the sterile chamber while the outside is sterilized, so in the unlikely event that the flow of sterile air is disrupted by the jigs of various parts inside the sterile chamber. Therefore, even if bacterial cells are scattered outside the container, they will be dead, so there will be no contamination of the inside of the container or the sterile chamber, making it possible to reliably fill and package in aseptic conditions. Ta.

In addition, even if the container is not completely sterile before being transferred to the sterile chamber, it can be filled aseptically,
It became possible to seal the product, making it a simple and easy-to-use sterile packaging machine, and it became a general-purpose type.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing an example of the aseptic packaging machine of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a container suitable for sterilization and packaging with the aseptic packaging machine of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the exterior of the container. Explanatory diagram showing the sterilization state in the sterilization section, No. 4
The figure is an explanatory view showing another example of the holding plate, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic explanatory views showing the flow of sterile air within the sterile chamber. C... Container, 10... Loading section, 11... Aseptic packaging machine, 12... Molding section, 13... Aseptic chamber, 16... External sterilization section, 17... Internal sterilization section,
18... Drying section, 19... Filling section, 20... Heating section, 21... Sealing section, 22... Air blowing section, 3
0, 31...Spray nozzle, 40...Carrier, 41...Chain, 42...Transportation mechanism, 43
... Guide, 45, 46 ... Gap, 47 ... Holding plate.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) In a sterile chamber that is always kept under positive pressure, a paper container is transported from the molding section of the container, has an open top, and is then folded in to seal the paper container. The aseptic packaging machine is equipped with a sterilizing section, a filling section for contents, and a sealing section at the top, which has a sterilizing mechanism that sprays a sterilizing solution from above as the carriers move and the carriers are arranged at regular intervals. The cross section has a structure in which the opposite side of the conveyance guide is at the height of the body of the container and separated from the container by a gap, and is movable from the conveyance guide side provided along the conveyance mechanism or from below. A sterile packaging machine characterized by having a U-shaped holding plate. (2) The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the carrier and the holding plate have a structure in which they partially contact the body of the container.