JPH06153883A - Method for sterilizing packed vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a method for sterilizing a packed vessel, capable of simply and efficiently carrying out sterilizing treatment even to a packed vessel having small diameter and used for germ-free packed product, e.g. PET bottle. CONSTITUTION:A sterilizing agent is attached to the mouth part 1a of a vessel by spraying and then, the mouth part 1a of the vessel is sealed with a sealing member 2 such as a lid material or a sealing material to sterilize the inner face of the packed vessel 1 and the inner face of the sealing member 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing a packaging container, and more particularly to a method for sterilizing a packaging container such as a PET bottle which can sterilize the inner surface of the packaging container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Molded containers such as so-called PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are widely used as containers for soft drinks such as fruit juices and coffee, and aseptic filling products are manufactured using these molded containers. In this case, prior to filling, it is necessary to sterilize the outer surface of the container as well as the inner surface of the container for containing the content, from the viewpoint of preventing contamination of the content during filling or maintaining sterility of the aseptic filling system.

As a method for sterilizing the inner and outer surfaces of such a molding container, a so-called spray method or a molding container in which a sterilizing solution such as a hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution which is heated at room temperature or heated is sprayed on the container and then hot air is blown to dry it The so-called dipping method is used in which the sterilizing solution is contacted with the sterilizing liquid for a certain period of time and then washed with sterile water.

However, in any of the above methods, if the inner and outer surfaces of a large-sized molding container such as a PET bottle are both sterilized in a filling system having a high filling speed, the filling system becomes large in scale and the equipment cost increases. There was a drawback that as the price increased, the maintenance of the equipment became complicated.

Therefore, in order to more easily and aseptically fill a large-sized molded container such as a PET bottle, the present applicant sterilizes the inner surface of the container mouth sealing member such as a lid material or a sealing material for sealing the mouth portion of the container in advance. A liquid is attached, and a container inner surface is sterilized by quickly mounting and sealing the container mouth sealing member on the container mouth to produce a sterilized packaging container, and further, the inner surface sterilized packaging container in a filling system. A means has been proposed in which only the outer surface is sterilized and then the container mouth sealing member is removed to fill the contents (see JP-A-2-52632).

[0006] Further, the applicant of the present invention has obtained a method of sterilizing a packaging container by heating and vaporizing a sterilizing solution as a sterilizing method of a packaging container capable of more uniformly adhering the sterilizing agent to the surface of the packaging material as compared with the spray method. It has been proposed to use a fine sterilizing solution mist generated by condensing the sterilizing solution gas (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-224469).

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned aseptic filling means, since the sterilizing liquid is attached to the sealing member, the packaging container to be sterilized has a small container diameter such as a PET bottle. The mechanism is complicated when the sterilizing liquid is continuously attached to the inner surface of the sealing member at a high speed with respect to the sealing member having a small area, or after the sterilizing liquid is attached, the sealing member is further handled. However, the stability of the adhered amount may be impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to easily and efficiently perform sterilization treatment on a packaging container having a small container diameter such as a PET bottle used for an aseptic filling product. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for sterilizing a packaging container.

[0009]

The structure of the present invention for attaining the above-mentioned object is to provide a sterilizing agent in advance inside a packaging container whose container mouth is sealed by a sealing member so that the inner surface of the container is protected. In a sterilizing method of a packaging container for performing sterilization, it is a sterilizing method of a packaging container, characterized by spraying and attaching a bactericide to a container mouth, and sealing the container mouth with a sealing member, The bactericide is hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ )
It is a method of sterilizing a packaging container which is a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist obtained by vaporizing an aqueous solution and then condensing it.

[0010]

In the method of sterilizing a packaging container according to the present invention, first, a sterilizing agent is sprayed onto the mouth of the packaging container being conveyed. A part of the sprayed bactericide adheres to the inner surface of the container through the mouth of the container, and the remaining part is on the top surface of the container mouth that is covered by a sealing member such as a lid or a sealing material that is mounted later. Adhere to. At that time, if the transport speed of the packaging container is slow, the disinfectant is sprayed intermittently at the timing when the packaging container passes, and if the transport speed of the packaging container is fast, the disinfectant is continuously sprayed. It suffices to pass the sterilizing agent through the packaging container in such a state that the stable attachment of the bactericide is achieved by a simple mechanism.

Further, as a bactericidal agent, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O
₂ ) By using a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist obtained by vaporizing an aqueous solution and then condensing it, it becomes possible to make the adhered state of the bactericide more uniform, and thus a more stable bactericide Adhesion is achieved.

Immediately after completion of the above steps, when a sealing member such as a lid material or a sealing material is attached to the container opening of the packaging container, the bactericide attached to the packaging container evaporates and the inner surface of the sealing member is packaged. The inner surface of the container is sterilized, and the top surface of the container opening hidden by the sealing member is also sterilized.

Therefore, according to this sterilization method of the packaging container, the sterilization treatment of the inner surface of the packaging container can be performed easily and efficiently.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows that in the method for sterilizing a packaging container of the present invention, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O) is added to the container opening 1 a of the packaging container 1.
₂ ) It is an explanatory view showing a state in which the mist is sprayed and then the sealing member 2 is immediately fitted to the container mouth 1a.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this sterilization method, first, a container mouth 1a of a packaging container 1 such as a PET bottle.
Spray hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist onto the. Specifically, the packaging container 1 is placed on a conveying means such as a belt conveyor (not shown) and is conveyed along the guide 10 in the arrow direction of FIG.

Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) is placed on the carrier.
A mist spouting nozzle 20 is provided and this hydrogen peroxide (H
_A hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist is sprayed from the ₂ O ₂ ) mist jet nozzle 20 toward the container opening 1 a of the packaging container 1. A part of this hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist passes through the container mouth 1a of the packaging container 1 and adheres to the inner surface of the mouth, while a part adheres to the container mouth top surface 1b and the remaining A part adheres to the vicinity of the outer periphery of the container mouth 1a.

Here, the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist ejection nozzle 20 is provided at the tip of a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist ejection means (not shown), and ₂ O ₂ ) mist ejecting means is hydrogen peroxide (H ₂
O ₂₎ aqueous hydrogen peroxide is supplied (H ₂ O ₂₎ and the aqueous solution supply unit, the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂₎ hydrogen peroxide supplied from the solution supply unit (H ₂ O ₂₎ solution heating And a vaporizing section for vaporizing the vaporized material by heating it to a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point. In this hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂₎ mist spray means, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂₎ hydrogen peroxide supplied from the solution supply unit (H ₂ O ₂₎ aqueous solution, in the vaporization tube provided with heating means It is heated to a temperature higher than the boiling point and completely vaporized, and it is ejected from the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist ejection nozzle 20 as hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) gas into the air and at the same time condensed and becomes fine. Hydrogen peroxide (H
₂ O ₂ ) Generates mist.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist ejection nozzle 20 avoids the container opening 1a of the packaging container 1 right above, and the container opening 1a from above the side. It is preferable to dispose the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist 31 at a position where it can be ejected.

From such a position, hydrogen peroxide (H
_{If the 2} O ₂ ) mist is jetted out, so-called fluffing occurs from the tip of the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist jetting nozzle 20 and the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution Even if droplets are generated, the droplets do not fall inside the packaging container 1 and adhere to the inner surface of the packaging container 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of adverse effects such as problems in food hygiene due to an increase in the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) in the packaging container 1.

In this sterilizing method of the packaging container, the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist is attached to the container opening portion 1a of the packaging container 1 as described above, and immediately thereafter the container opening of the packaging container 1 is made. The sealing member 2 is fitted to the portion 1a, and the container mouth portion 1
a is sealed. As a result, the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) gas generated by evaporation of the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist adhering to the inner surface of the packaging container 1 sterilizes the inner surface of the packaging container 1 and at the same time, seals it. The inner surface of the stopper member 2 is also sterilized. Moreover, since the packaging container 1 is sealed by the sealing member 2, 2
There is no next pollution. By hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂₎ hydrogen peroxide adhering to the container mouth part top 1b when sprayed mist (H ₂ O ₂₎ mist evaporates more container opening 1a, the sealing member 2 The container mouth top surface 1b hidden by the sealing member 2 is also sterilized by the fitting.

Here, the sealing member 2 for the container opening 1a
The fitting can be performed by suitably using the stoppering machine 53 as shown in FIG. 1, for example. Also, the time from spraying hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist into the packaging container 1 from the container opening 1a to fitting the sealing member 2 into the container opening 1a of the packaging container 1. Is usually within 30 seconds, preferably within 10 seconds. If this time exceeds 30 seconds, part of the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) adhering to the inner surface of the packaging container 1 or the container mouth top surface 1b evaporates, so that the sealing member 2 is fitted. Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O)
₂ ) Since the residual amount of mist is reduced, the inner surface of the packaging container 1 may not be sufficiently sterilized.

Here, sterilization of the container mouth 1a is performed.
Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂O₂) Care about the aqueous solution
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)
Mist is used, but especially limited to this method
Alternatively, you can use a regular two-fluid spray
is there.

By configuring the apparatus as described above,
It is possible to control the amount of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist sprayed on the inner surface of the bottle within a practical range by adjusting the spray amount of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) even when the transfer speed is high, and sterilization is possible. The liquid can be stably attached.

The method of sterilizing the packaging container can be suitably applied as the pretreatment step A of the aseptic filling system B as shown in FIG. 3, for example. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, first, in the PET bottle molding step S1,
Mold PET bottles. Next, the bottle inner surface sterilization step S
In No. 2, a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist is sprayed toward the mouth of the PET bottle, and immediately thereafter, an inner plug is fitted into the mouth of the PET bottle to seal the mouth. . By the pretreatment process A including the PET bottle molding process S1 and the bottle inner surface sterilization process 2, the packaging container is molded and the container inner surface and the inner plug inner surface are sterilized.

The packaging container 1 that has undergone this pretreatment step A is then stacked on a pallet in the palletizing step S3, and then supplied to the aseptic filling system B. In the aseptic filling system B, first, in the PET bottle supply step S4, the PET bottle whose container inner surface has been sterilized in the pretreatment step A is supplied to the filling system.
The supplied PET bottle is subjected to a bottle outer surface sterilization step S5, for example, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) is applied to the outer surface of the bottle.
The mist is sprayed and the outer surface of the bottle is sterilized. The PET bottle whose outer surface has been sterilized is then subjected to an inner plug removing step or an inner plug removing step S6,
Here, the inner plug is removed. The PET bottle with the inner plug removed is subjected to the content filling step S7, and the PET bottle is filled with the content such as a soft drink. Next, if necessary, the head space of the filled PET bottle is replaced with nitrogen (N ₂ ) gas (nitrogen replacement step S8), and a cap is attached to the mouth of the filled PET bottle in the capping step S9. This cap is supplied in the cap supply step S10, and further sterilized by a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist in the cap sterilization step S11. The processing of each step constituting such an aseptic filling system B is performed under aseptic conditions such as an aseptic chamber.

The filled PET bottle with the cap attached is normally shipped as a sterile filled product through the labeling step S12 and the packaging step 13.
FIG. 4 shows a partial configuration of an aseptic filling system B using the packaging container sterilizing method.

As shown in FIG. 4, the packaging container 1 such as a PET bottle is placed on a conveying means 51 such as a belt conveyor and is first conveyed to the bottle outer surface sterilizer 52. This bottle outer surface sterilizer uses hydrogen peroxide (H
_{A 2} O ₂ ) mist jetting nozzle is provided, whereby hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist is sprayed on the outer surface of the bottle and then dried by hot air to sterilize the outer surface of the bottle. Here, in FIG. 4, 52b is a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist supply means having a hydrogen peroxide mist (H ₂ O ₂ ) jet nozzle at its tip. The packaging container 1 that has passed through such a bottle outer surface sterilizer 52
Is then conveyed to the unplugging machine 54, and after the inner plug is removed or unplugged by the unplugging machine 54, the filling machine 55
The contents are filled in and then transported to the cap mounting means 56. In the cap mounting means 56, a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist is supplied from the cap supply means 57, and a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist is sprayed in the cap sterilization means 58 and is dried by hot air, so that the inner and outer surfaces thereof are sterilized. For example, an aluminum cap which has been formed is capped on the mouth of the container.

Although not shown in FIG. 4, the filling line from the bottle outer surface sterilizing device 52 to the cap mounting means 56 is a microorganism in the steps from bottle outer surface sterilization to filling of contents to capping. It is placed under aseptic conditions by providing equipment such as an aseptic chamber to prevent contamination.

The PET bottle with the cap attached is usually transported to label attaching means (not shown) to be attached with a label, and then packaged and shipped as an aseptically filled product.

[0030]

According to the present invention, after the sterilizing agent is sprayed and adhered to the container mouth, the container mouth is sealed by the sealing member, so that the packaging container is transported at high speed. Even in such a case, the disinfectant can be easily and stably attached to the inner surface of the packaging container. Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for sterilizing a packaging container which can efficiently perform sterilization treatment of, for example, PET bottles used for aseptic filling products.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a step of spraying a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist into the container and a step of fitting an inner plug in a packaging container sterilizing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state in which hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist is jetted into the container in the packaging container sterilizing method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of an aseptic filling system including a packaging container sterilization method of the present invention as a pretreatment step in the order of steps.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a configuration example of an aseptic filling system using the packaging container sterilization method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... packaging container 1a ... container opening 1b ... container opening top 2 ... sealing member 31 ... hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂₎ Mist

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A sterilizing method for a packaging container, wherein a sterilizing agent is present in advance inside a packaging container whose container mouth is sealed by a sealing member to sterilize the inner surface of the container. A method for sterilizing a packaging container, characterized in that the container mouth is sealed with a sealing member. 2. The hydrogen peroxide (H) obtained by vaporizing and then condensing the aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) as the bactericidal agent.
_The method for sterilizing a packaging container according to claim 1, which is ₂ O ₂ ) mist.