JPH0769328A - Sterilizer for packaging material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a sterilizer for a packaging material, which can efficiently sterilize an outer face of the packaging material and also can evenly sterilize everywhere on the packaging material and which is highly reliable. CONSTITUTION:A sterilizer comprises a mist gushing means 2 for supplying hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mist in a chamber 1 and a compressed air supplying means 3 for generating an air flow in the chamber 1, while the compressed air supplying means 3 has a circular air pipe 30 through which a packaging material 60 passes in the chamber 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizing apparatus for packaging materials, which can be suitably used for sterilizing packaging containers for liquids such as milk cartons, and is particularly suitable for an aseptic filling system. Sterilizer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Liquid packaging containers such as so-called milk cartons are widely used as containers for milk, fruit juices and the like. When manufacturing an aseptically filled product using this liquid packaging container, it is necessary to sterilize the entire container for filling the beverage prior to filling.

Conventionally, for example, the following sterilizing method has been widely used for sterilizing such packaging containers. That is, first, the carton supplied to the filling machine is sterilized in advance using a sterilizing agent having permeability such as ethylene oxide gas,
After supplying this to the filling machine, the bottom is formed at one end,
In a state in which it is formed in the shape of a container with the other end opened, a sterilizing solution such as a hydrogen peroxide solution (H ₂ O ₂ ) is spray-adhered to the inner surface of the container, and the sterilizing solution is dried by subsequent drying. is there.

A two-fluid spray has been used as a sterilizer used in this method (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-62160).
-4038). Further, the sterilization device has been improved, and for example, there has been one that vaporizes hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) water once and then re-condenses it (see JP-A-3-20054).

[0005]

In the conventional sterilization method described above, the inner surface of the carton whose bottom is molded is sufficiently sterilized, but the outer surface is molded into a container shape. It was only gas sterilization that was performed in advance, and sterilization was not performed after the gas was supplied to the filling machine.

However, considering the sterility of the aseptic filling system, it is necessary to sterilize not only the inner surface of the container but also the outer surface of the container. However, if the conventional two-fluid spray method is used to sterilize the outer surface of the container, the sterilizing solution must be sprayed from several places around one carton in order to uniformly attach the sterilizing solution to the outer surface of the container. There has been a problem that the apparatus is complicated and the sterilizing liquid has a large adhered particle diameter, and it takes time to dry.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable efficient sterilization of the outer surface of a packaging material such as a milk carton in a filling machine, and reliability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilizing device for packaging materials, which has high cost and can surely perform sterilization treatment with a small amount of sterilizing liquid.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The structure of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a mist ejecting means for supplying a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist into a chamber having a packaging material passage opening. Compressed air for generating an air flow that causes the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist sprayed into the chamber by the mist ejecting means to adhere to at least the outer surface of the packaging material that passes through the chamber with both ends open. A supply means, the compressed air supply means is provided with an annular air pipe through which the packaging material passes through in the chamber, and the annular air pipe is formed with a compressed air outlet for blowing out compressed air toward the peripheral surface of the packaging material. It is a sterilizer for packaging materials.

[0009]

In the packaging material sterilizer of the present invention, the packaging material is laid sideways with both ends open, and is placed on the packaging material transporting rail that sandwiches the four sides of the carton or the two opposite sides by the packaging material transport mechanism. It is transported while being placed on the. In this state, the packaging material is carried into the chamber through one packaging material passage opening formed in the sterilization chamber, and is delivered through the other packaging material passage opening. The transport rail is cut in this chamber, and the passage portion passes through the chamber without coming into contact with the rail.

In the chamber, the peracid is discharged from the mist jetting means.
Hydrogen fluoride (H₂O₂) Mist is continuously supplied,
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Full of mist
Is being played. On the other hand, in this chamber, compressed air
It is formed on the annular air pipe that constitutes the supply means.
Compressed air is continuously supplied from the compressed air outlet.
There is. The packaging material with both ends open can be
I will pass through the circular air pipe of
Compressed air continuously supplied from an annular air pipe
The air toward the outer surface of the packaging material with both ends open.
It has the effect of generating a flow, and this air flow is
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Blow in mist, peroxide
Hydrogen (H₂O₂) Will cause a mist flow. This
As a result, the outer surface of the packaging material with both ends open,
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) The mist is rounded all around.
Adheres well. Therefore, according to this sterilization device, packaging
Sterilization of the outer surface of the material will take place in the filling machine. This
After that, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Miss
Is dried in the drying process and the bottom is formed in the next process.
In addition, the inner surface is sterilized and dried in the next process, filling, top
It will be sealed. In addition, the outer surface of the packaging material should be sterilized.
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O ₂)mist
And because the compressed air is supplied, the chamber
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O
₂) A mist flow is generated and passes through the chamber.
The sterilizing liquid surely adheres to the packaging material. So this
Sterilizers are extremely reliable.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a packaging material sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this sterilizing apparatus is provided with a mist ejecting means 2 and a compressed air supplying means 3 in a chamber 1, and both sides of the chamber 1 are provided with a packaging material passage opening. 4a, 4b and a packaging material transport rail 6 are formed.

The chamber 1 is formed of, for example, a stainless steel plate, has packaging material passage ports 4a and 4b formed at opposite positions on both side surfaces thereof, and an exhaust port 5 formed at a lower end portion thereof.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the details of an example of the mist ejecting means 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the mist ejection means 2
Is a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution supply unit 21 that supplies a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution, and peroxidation supplied from the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution supply unit 21. And a vaporizing section 23 for heating the aqueous hydrogen (H ₂ O ₂ ) solution to a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point by the heating means 22 and vaporizing the same.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Aqueous solution supply unit 21
In the main body 21a of the supply portion constituting the
Similar to the one used. This supply unit body 21
a to the nozzle 21 via the extension pipe 24
b is connected. This is the vapor that forms the vaporization part 23.
The heat from the vaporizing tube 23a blocks the upper part of the vaporizing tube 23a.
Via the aluminum plug 25 and the nozzle 21b
It is transmitted to the feeding section main body 21a, and the feeding section main body 21a is heated.
This is to prevent this from happening. The vaporization tube 23a is
For example, a tube cylinder 26 made of a sanitary pipe, and a heating means 22.
Consists of. The spray nozzle 20 is in contact with the lower end of the vaporization pipe 23a.
Has been continued. And this spray nozzle 20 is
Phosphorus formed by the annular air pipe 30 supplied with air
The hydrogen peroxide mist toward the inside of the chamber.
It is set up. As a result, the amount of excess gas emitted from the spray nozzle 20
Hydrogen oxide (H₂O₂) Mist is more than annular air pipe
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O
₂) The mist is sprayed and adheres to the outer surface of the packaging material.
Further, the number of spray nozzles 20 provided in the chamber 1 is
It may be arbitrarily determined as needed. In addition, in FIG.
1 is hydrogen peroxide (H ₂O₂) Aqueous solution inlet, 72 is compressed air
It is an atomizing air inlet for supplying air.

In the vaporizing pipe 23a, it is important to avoid a place where the temperature is low and a place where the temperature is likely to drop in order to equalize the vaporization. Therefore, the heating means 22 is evenly distributed over substantially the entire length of the vaporizing pipe 23a. It is provided.
In addition, the extension pipe 24 is attached to the supply unit main body 21a.
The diameter of the vaporization pipe 23a is set sufficiently large so that pressure is not applied to the inside of the pipe when the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution is sprayed from the nozzle 21b connected via the The inner surface of the vaporization tube 23a is formed to be smooth so that the generated hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) can easily escape.

[0017] In this mist jetting unit 2, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂₎ aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide supplied from the supply unit 21 (H ₂ O ₂₎ aqueous solution is higher than the boiling point in the vaporization tube 23a with a heating means 22 Is completely vaporized by being heated to the temperature of
A hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist is continuously sprayed into the chamber 1 from a spray nozzle 20 provided in the chamber 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, compressed air supply means 3
Is a compressed air blowing port 3 formed in, for example, an annular air pipe 30 connected to a compressed air source (not shown).
1, 31, ..., The compressed air is continuously supplied into the chamber 1 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. here,
The compressed air blowing ports 31, 31, ... Are usually arranged so as to blow the compressed air toward the center of the annular air pipe 30. As a result, the annular air pipe 3
The compressed air continuously supplied from 0 is the annular air pipe 30 from the spray nozzle 20 which constitutes the mist ejecting means 2.
Entrainment hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂₎ mist sprayed inside the ring formed by, blown to the outer surface of the packaging material 60, such as milk cartons, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O
₂ ) Mist adheres to the outer surface of the packaging material 60.

On the other hand, the packaging material 60 has a packaging material passage port 4
The packaging material conveying rail 6 is continuously installed in a and b, and is carried into the chamber 1 and passes through the chamber 1 without the packaging material conveying rail 6. Therefore, in this sterilizing apparatus, the outer surface of the packaging material 60 such as a milk carton, which is placed on the conveying means with both ends open and passes through the chamber 1, is evenly and sufficiently required over the entire outer surface. Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist of the above adheres.

This sterilization device for packaging materials is shown in FIG.
It can be suitably used as a sterilizing device for packaging materials in the aseptic filling system as shown in. The aseptic filling machine shown in FIG. 3 sterilizes a packaging material such as a milk carton and fills the contents in an aseptic chamber.
This aseptic filling machine includes a packaging material supply means 100 for supplying a packaging material, an ultrasonic sealing means 110 for attaching a spout to the packaging material, a sterilizer 120 of the present invention, a drying means 125, and a bottom portion of the packaging material. Bottom forming means 1 for forming
30, bottom seal means 140, top curl folding means 151, 152, 153, inner surface germicide attachment means 160 for spraying a germicide on the inner surface of the packaging material, and inner surface drying means 170 for drying the inner surface of the packaging material. And filling means 1
80 and top heater means 1 for heating the head of the packaging material
90 and top sealing means 2 for sealing the head of the packaging material 2
00 and. The packaging material supplied by the packaging material supply means 100 and raised in a rectangular tube shape is transported in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. The packaging material to which the spout is attached by the ultrasonic sealing means 110 has hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist attached in a thin film form by the packaging material outer surface sterilizing means 120 of the present invention, and is dried by the next drying means 125. Then, the outer surface is sterilized and conveyed to the bottom forming unit 130. The subsequent structure is similar to that of a conventional filling machine that only sterilizes the inner surface.

In the aseptic filling machine shown in FIG. 3, the drying means 125 is used.
According to the sterilizer 120 of the present invention,
Since the mist diameter of the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist adhering to the outer surface of the packaging material is sufficiently small, it is possible to dry by the heat generated in the next bottom forming means 130, so the drying means 125 is omitted. Is also possible. In FIG. 3, a zone 300 surrounded by a thick line shows a sterile chamber of the aseptic filling machine, and sterile air filtered by a filter is supplied and kept in a positive pressure state.

Next, a package using this packaging material sterilizer is used.
The following is an example of an experiment on the sterilization of cotton.Experimental example Using a sterilizer with the following structure, Bacillus subtilis spores are applied to the outer surface.
Carry out a sterilization test on the carton with
The bactericidal effect was evaluated. 1. Equipment configuration Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Mist spraying device 35 in a heated vaporizing tube with a two-fluid spray nozzle.
% Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O ₂) Spray water to vaporize
It Immediately by injecting this from the nozzle
A small amount of H caused by condensation₂O₂Generate a mist. this
The car is driven by a compressed air flow supplied from an annular air pipe.
Attach to the outer surface of the ton. H₂O₂Mist generation conditions: Spraying air pressure: 5 kg / cm² Annular air pipe air pressure: 3kg / cm² H₂O₂Supply amount: 30 g / min Vaporization tube set temperature: 250 ° C.₂O₂Spray mist and carry
Move the carton by sending means (speed 50 cm /
Second), 0.3 μl / cm on the outer surface of the carton
²35% of₂O₂Adhered. Continue that carton
It was dried with hot air of 80 ° C. for 4 seconds. 2. Bactericidal effect Creation of fungus-attached carton Bacillus subtilis spores on the outer surface of the carton 10^FourKo and 10^FiveKoso
Each spot was attached. Sterilization and its evaluation For the above carton-attached carton, the sterilization device having the above-mentioned configuration
Sterilization was used, and further drying treatment was performed.

Then, the site where the bacteria adhered was cut out and cultured on a normal agar medium to examine whether or not the bacteria were generated. The results are shown in Table 1.
Shown in.

[0024]

[Table 1] As is clear from Table 1, it was confirmed that this device has a 6D sterilizing effect on the outer surface of the carton. The outer surface of the carton was subjected to sterilization and drying of the measurement above conditions residual H ₂ O _2, by a method of immersing the carton in water was measured residual H ₂ O ₂ amount in the following manner.

That is, the outer surface 90 of the carton for 1 liter
0 cm ² was immersed in 100 ml of water, and the H ₂ O ₂ concentration of the water was measured. As a result, the H ₂ O ₂ concentration was 0.01 pp
It was m or less. Evaluation From the above experimental results, it was confirmed that the sterilizer for this packaging material can be suitably used as a sterilizer for an aseptic filling system such as a milk carton.

[0026]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, because of the above constitution, it is possible to efficiently sterilize the outer surface of the container, and
It is highly reliable, and it is possible to surely sterilize every corner of the container with a small amount of sterilizing liquid. For example, a packaging material that can be suitably used as a container sterilizing means constituting an aseptic filling system. A sterilizer can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an example of a packaging material sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an example of a mist ejecting means in the packaging material sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of an aseptic filling system using the packaging material sterilizing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Chamber 2 ... Mist ejecting means 3 ... Compressed air supply means 4a, 4b ... Packaging material passage opening 30 ... Annular air pipe 31 ... Compressed air blowing opening 60 ... Packaging material

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a chamber having a packaging material passage opening
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O ₂) Mist spouter that supplies mist
And a mist ejecting means for spraying into the chamber.
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Mist in the chamber
At least the packaging material that passes through with both ends open
Compressed air supply means for generating an air flow attached to the outer surface
And the compressed air supply means allows the packaging material to pass through
An annular air pipe is installed in the chamber,
Compressed air is blown to the pipe toward the peripheral surface of the packaging material.
Characterized by a compressed air outlet formed
A sterilizer for packaging materials.