JPH05246410A - Charging and packing under sterilization - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the size of a sterilizing chamber, reduce the amount of used agent and shorten cleaning time, by a method wherein while only a part including a spout in the upper surface of a container is being held within a sterilized chamber, spraying of sterilizing agent, drying, charging of content and sealing are carried out in succession from the spout. CONSTITUTION:A container 1 is held by a pushing-up rod 4 on a transfer belt 2, and then only its upper surface 3 including a spout 8 is led into a sterilizing chamber 5. At this time, sterilizing air held in positive pressure is supplied from a pipe 16 into the sterilizing chamber 5. Next, sterilizing agent is sprayed toward the spout 8, whereby the container 1 is sterilized. Then hot air is supplied through a drying nozzle 11 to dry the container 1. Further content is charged into the container 1 through a charging nozzle 12. In succession, a spout sealing material 9 is folded by a sealing material folding guide 13, and a sealing bar 14 is made to go down on an upper part of the spout 8 to seal it. After that, the container 1 is taken out of the sterilizing chamber 5 and discharged by a pushing-down rod 15 out of the transfer belt 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an aseptic filling and packaging method for aseptically packaging milk or foods such as juices,
In particular, it relates to a method for aseptic filling and packing in paper / plastic containers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, aseptic filling and packaging machines for paper and plastic containers are used for sterilization and
Removing and filling. Therefore, the entire container is housed in a sterile chamber for the work. In this case, the sealing mechanism for sealing is large, and thus the volume of the sterile chamber is also large. As the volume of the aseptic chamber becomes large, the flow of aseptic air to keep the inside of the chamber at a higher pressure (positive pressure) than the outside is disturbed, and a lot of aseptic air is required for dust generation. It takes a lot of chemicals and a lot of time to wash and sterilize. Further, if the sealing mechanism is large, in the case of heat sealing, the heat is largely dissipated, which also increases the turbulence of the sterile air.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems and requires only a small volume of a sterile chamber, and reduces the amount of chemicals used and the cleaning time during cleaning and sterilization of the chamber.
An object of the present invention is to provide an aseptic filling and packaging method in which heat is less diffused in the case of heat-sealing and aseptic air is less disturbed.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a method for aseptic filling and packaging with an aseptic filling and packaging machine, in which only the portion of the upper surface of the container to be filled with the drinking mouth is placed in the aseptic chamber. The aseptic filling and packaging method is characterized by holding and spraying a sterilizing agent through the mouth, drying, filling and sealing the contents to obtain an aseptic filling and packaging product.

A detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a method of introducing only the upper surface of a container having a mouthpiece into an aseptic chamber, showing an embodiment of the present invention.
The container 1 is pushed up and held by the container transport belt 2 of the aseptic filling and packaging machine 6 by the push-up rod 4. Almost
At the upper end position of the conveyor belt 2, the upper surface 3 with the mouth of the container is located, and only the upper surface 3 with the mouth of the container enters the sterile chamber 5.

In the aseptic chamber 5, sterile positive pressure maintaining air 7 having a pressure higher than the outside flows so that dirty air does not enter from the outside.

Now, the container flowing in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view (a) and a plan view (b) showing a conventional container, and FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view (a) and a plan view showing a container of an embodiment used in the method of the present invention. It is (b). Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, since a container whose entire upper surface is open was used, the entire container was introduced into a sterile chamber and the entire lid of the container was heat-sealed. Therefore, the size of the aseptic chamber also becomes large, the flow of aseptic air is disturbed, and a large amount of aseptic air is required for dust generation,
In addition, there is a problem that the amount of chemicals used and the time required for cleaning and sterilizing the chamber take a long time, and in the case of heat sealing when the sealing mechanism is large, the heat dissipation is large, which also causes a problem of aseptic air disturbance. occured.

The present invention uses the container provided with the upper surface 3 having the drinking mouth as shown in FIG. 3, and since the container is provided with the drinking mouth sealing material 9, the above-mentioned problems can be solved.
That is, the size of the aseptic chamber may be small, the flow of aseptic air may not be disturbed, the amount of chemicals during cleaning and sterilization may be small, and the amount of heat generated may be small.

[0009]

By using the aseptic filling and packaging method of the present invention, only the upper surface of the container with the mouth is introduced into the aseptic chamber, so that the aseptic chamber can have a small volume.
Also, since only the spout is fused in the sterile chamber,
The heat capacity can be reduced.

[0010]

EXAMPLE FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of the aseptic filling and packaging method of the present invention. Push up container 1 Rod 4
The carrier belt 2 is held by the above, and only the upper surface 3 with the mouthpiece is introduced into the sterile chamber 5. The wall surface of the container 1 was composed of polyethylene / aluminum / polyethylene / paper / polyethylene from the inside. The container 1 is not limited to the one having the above-described structure, but a container having a similar structure or a plastic resin alone can be used.

Next, the container 1 into which only the upper surface 3 with the drinking mouth is introduced into the aseptic chamber 5 is sterilized by the sterilizing agent spray nozzle 10 spraying the sterilizing agent from the drinking mouth 8. After that, hot air is sent by the drying nozzle 11 to be dried, and then the filling nozzle 12 is filled with food such as juice or milk.

Then, the mouthpiece sealing material 9 is folded by the sealant folding guide 13, and the seal bar 14 is lowered above the mouthpiece 8 to seal the mouthpiece. This completes the aseptic filling and packaging, and removes from the aseptic chamber and push-down rod 1
5, the sheet is discharged from the conveyor belt 2.

The inside of the aseptic chamber 5 is connected by a pipe 16.
Aseptic positive pressure maintaining air 7 is constantly supplied to prevent air from entering from the outside. Further, the parts of the upper and lower rods such as the germicide spray nozzle 10, the drying nozzle 11, the filling nozzle 12, and the seal bar 14 extending to the outside of the aseptic chamber are covered with bellows or the like to be shielded from the outside air, and dust, air, etc. Prevents contamination.

[0014]

According to the present invention, the volume of the aseptic chamber is small, the amount of chemicals used during cleaning and sterilization of the chamber and the cleaning time are small, heat is not diffused in the case of heat sealing, and sterile air is not disturbed. A small aseptic filling and packaging method can be provided.

[0015]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing that only the upper surface of a container with a mouth is introduced into a sterile chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a process explanatory view of the aseptic filling and packaging method showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view (a) and a vertical cross-sectional view (b) showing one embodiment of the container used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view (a) and a vertical cross-sectional view (b) of a conventionally used container.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Container 2 ... Conveyor belt 3 ... Top surface with a mouthpiece
4 ... Push-up rod 5 ... Aseptic chamber 6 ... Aseptic filling and packaging machine 7 ... Aseptic positive pressure maintaining air 8 ... Drinking mouth 9 ... Drinking mouth sealing material 10 ... Microbicide spray nozzle 11 ... Drying nozzle 12 ... Filling nozzle 13 ... Sealing material Folding guide 14 ... Seal bar 15 ... Pressing rod 16 ... Piping

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a method of aseptic filling and packaging with an aseptic filling and packaging machine, only a portion of the upper surface of a container to be filled where a drinking mouth is present is held in a sterile chamber, and a bactericide is sprayed from the drinking mouth, dried, and the contents are contained. An aseptic filling and packaging method, characterized in that the aseptic filling and packaging is performed by filling and sealing.