JPH0794252B2 - Aseptic filling method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for aseptic filling of contents using ozone water, and more specifically, to prevent deterioration of working environment due to ozone gas even when high concentration ozone water is used. The present invention relates to an aseptic filling method that does not require cleaning of a sterilized container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the production of hermetically-sealed foods, containers and contents have been sterilized after filling the contents by a method conventionally called retort or hot pack. Destruction of the organization of the contents,
There is a problem in that vitamins, pigments, etc. are disintegrated, and deterioration such as browning occurs. The contents are sterilized outside the packaging container by means such as heat exchange at high temperature for a short time, and the sterilized contents are
There is also a method of filling and sealing a packaging container sterilized with an aqueous solution containing hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid, but in this case, there is a problem that a large amount of sterile water must be used for rinsing and the like.

As a solution to these problems, a method of sterilizing a container using a high concentration ozone-containing gas or ozone water has been proposed by the applicant (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-11).
According to this method, since the container is sterilized in advance, there is no fear of deterioration of the contents as described above, and ozone is decomposed into harmless oxygen. Since it does not require rinsing and washing, and does not require a large amount of sterile water for washing, it is a preferable method in that it has an advantage that the sterilizing apparatus can be downsized.

[0004]

Although the method of using a high-concentration ozone-containing gas or ozone water has the advantages as described above, since harmful ozone is used, the ozone gas is diffused from the sterilizer. Must be controlled to prevent the work environment from deteriorating.

On the other hand, as an aseptic filling method, sterilization and filling are also performed in a clean room. In this case, the pressure inside the clean room is set to be a positive pressure rather than the pressure outside the clean room, and air is used as a flow from the inside to the outside. It prevented the invasion of fungi and dust from the outside. However, when adopting the sterilization method using ozone as described above, in order to prevent deterioration of the working environment due to ozone gas, it is necessary not to diffuse ozone gas to the outside of the device, and when ozone is used, There is a problem that it is not possible to switch the air flow from inside to outside.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to carry out a series of steps of sterilization of a container, filling of contents, and sealing in an aseptic state using a high concentration of ozone water, and to generate the ozone water to be used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an aseptic filling method capable of treating ozone gas without being emitted to the outside and preventing invasion of fungi, dust and the like from the outside.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a sterilization region in which a container is brought into contact with ozone water for sterilization and a sterilization container is filled with contents in a sterile atmosphere, The filling and sealing area to be plugged is arranged as a closed space,
A narrow space where the container can pass through the container inlet leading to the sterilization zone and the sealed container outlet leading to the filling and sealing zone, and the pressure in the sterilization zone and the filling and sealing zone is set to a positive pressure (P ₁ ) higher than the outside air, and the container inlet and sealing There is provided an aseptic filling method, characterized in that the atmosphere at the container outlet has a negative pressure (P ₂ ) lower than the external pressure.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a sterilization region in which the container is brought into contact with ozone water for sterilization treatment, and a filling and sealing region in which the contents are filled and capped in a sterile atmosphere in a sterile container. And are arranged as closed spaces, and the container inlet that leads to the sterilization area and the sealed container outlet that leads to the filling and sealing area are made as narrow as the container can pass through. Provided is an aseptic filling method characterized by sequentially arranging an area and a water washing area along a moving direction of a container.

[0009]

In the aseptic filling method of the present invention, a sterilization region in which a container is brought into contact with ozone water for sterilization treatment and a filling and sealing region in which the contents are filled and capped in a sterile atmosphere in a sterilized container, For example, it is installed in an aseptic filling facility (hereinafter simply referred to as a clean room) that is isolated from the outside air, such as a clean room, to prevent entry of fungi and dust from the outside air, and ozone gas generated by ozone water used in the sterilization area. Is not emitted from the inside of the clean room to the outside.

That is, the aseptic filling method of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, empty containers and caps are introduced from the inlets 2a and 2b of the clean room 1 through a continuous space consisting of the sterilization area 3 and the filling and sealing area 4, and the finally filled and sealed container is the outlet of the clean room 1. It goes out from 5 (go in the direction of the arrow in the figure). Since the gas generated from the ozone water used for sterilizing the container in the sterilization area 3 is filled in the clean room, in order to process the ozone gas without leaking from the clean room,
The following means are adopted.

First, in the first aspect of the present invention, the container inlet leading to the sterilization zone and the hermetically sealed vessel outlet leading to the filling and sealing zone are made narrow so that the container can pass, and the pressure in the sterilizing zone and the filling and sealing zone is set to P. ₁ , where P _{2 is} the pressure of the atmosphere at the container inlet and P ₂ is the atmosphere at the sealed container outlet, and P ₀ is the atmospheric pressure outside the clean room, the relationship of P ₁ > P ₀ > P ₂ is established. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the inlet 2 and the outlet 5 of the clean room need to be in an open state so that the container can be continuously entered or discharged, and invasion of fungi or the like from the outside is required. In order to prevent it, it is necessary to make the space so narrow that the container can pass through.

Further, the inlet / outlet passages 6 provided at the inlet 2 and the outlet 5 are decompressed so as to have a pressure lower than that of the sterilization area 3 and the filling / sealing area 4 and the outside air, and the sterilization area 3
Since the air and the outside air in the filling and sealing area 4 are inhaled, the ozone gas and the outside air flow toward the inlet / outlet passage 6, and the outside air enters the sterilization area 3 and the filling and sealing area 4, and the ozone gas Is prevented from radiating to the outside. In the specific example shown in FIG. 2, the entrance passage 6
An exhaust port 7 such as a drafter is provided in the upper part of the above so that depressurized air can be taken in, and the ozone gas collected here is decomposed by an ozone processing mechanism (not shown).

In the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the container inlet 2 leading to the sterilization zone 3 and the hermetically sealed container outlet 5 leading to the filling and sealing zone 4 are made into a narrow space such that the container can pass, and the container inlet 2 and a sealed container outlet 5, a chemical cleaning area 8 for absorbing ozone and a water cleaning area 9 are sequentially arranged along the moving direction of the container.

It is the same as the first aspect to make the entrance and exit of the clean room a narrow space through which the container can pass, but in the second embodiment, the entrance and exit passage 6
In the above, by spraying a chemical liquid that absorbs ozone gas and treating the ozone gas in the inlet / outlet passage 6, the ozone gas filling the clean room is prevented from leaking from the clean room. After the chemical liquid that absorbs ozone gas has been sprayed, the chemical liquid that has adhered to the container may be washed with cleaning water after the chemical liquid has been sprayed.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In both the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is preferable to set the pressure in the filling and sealing area to be slightly higher than the pressure in the sterilization area. Although ozone decomposes into harmless oxygen over time, the sterilization area is filled with ozone gas generated from the ozone water used to sterilize the container. It is preferable that the ozone gas does not flow into the filling and sealing area for filling and sealing the contents of the above. Therefore, by setting the pressure difference between the sealed area and the filled sealed area in this manner, the air in the filled sealed area flows toward the sterilization area, and the inflow of ozone gas into the filled sealed area can be prevented.

Further, in the present invention, ozone gas can be effectively treated by making the air flow in the clean room as shown in FIG. That is, a continuous space composed of the sterilization area 3 and the filling / sealing area 4 (in the figure, the container advances toward the paper surface) is double walls 10a, 10b.
And 11a, 11b, and the inner wall 10 of this double wall
Discharge ports 12a and 12b are provided below a and 10b. Spaces 13a and 13b are formed by the inner wall 10a and the outer wall 11a, and the inner wall 10a and the outer wall 11b, and the sterile air filter 14 is arranged above the sterilization area 3 and the filling and sealing area 4. By flowing air from the upper part through the filter 14 to make the air flow laminar, the ozone gas-containing air in the sterilization area 3 and the filling and sealing area 4 flows in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the exhaust port 12a is quickly released. , 12b, and ozone gas treatment area (not shown) through the spaces 13a, 13b
Can treat ozone gas. A high performance air filter (HEPA) is preferably used as the sterile air filter used at this time.

Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, since the outside air is sucked in the inlet / outlet passage portion, the outermost inlet / outlet of the clean room, that is, the inlet side of the container inlet and the outlet side of the sealed container outlet. It is preferable to provide a cleaning area in the. By providing this cleaning area, dust and the like adhering to the container can be effectively removed, sterility in the clean room can be further ensured, and ozone can be prevented from being emitted to the outside of the clean room. .

Furthermore, in the second embodiment of the present invention, as the ozone absorbing chemical liquid, an alkaline aqueous solution, for example, a caustic soda aqueous solution, a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution, a sodium carbonate aqueous solution or the like can be effectively used. It is preferable to use a 2 to 10% aqueous solution, especially a 3 to 7% aqueous solution of the chemical solution used at this time. The method of treating the ozone gas collected in the clean room is not limited to this, but it can be treated by adsorption with activated carbon or the like.

The sterilization method in the aseptic filling method of the present invention is
It can be performed by spraying ozone water into the aseptic filling container. By using ozone water, ozone can directly act on the wall surface without forming a boundary layer on the surface of the container wall as in the case of using gas.

Further, since ozone becomes harmless oxygen in about 10 hours, the safety is secured even if the ozone remains in the container. In the present invention, it is preferable to use ozone water having an ozone concentration of 10 ppm or more, particularly 20 ppm or more. The highest concentration of ozone water is 2
Although it had a concentration of 3 ppm, it has recently become possible to produce ozone water with a high concentration of 20 to 30 ppm. For example, it can be obtained by using the ozone water producing apparatus described in JP-A-2-119991.

The sterilization of the aseptic filling container is preferably carried out prior to the aseptic filling of the contents, preferably immediately before the aseptic filling. That is, the injection of ozone water into the container and the holding of the ozone water in the container can be performed continuously or intermittently in the supply line to the aseptic filling process of the container, preferably a tunnel type or a rotary type. A device can be used.

For example, FIGS. 5 and 6 are a horizontal sectional view and a vertical partial sectional view of the rotary type sterilizer. The sterilization apparatus shown in FIG. 5 roughly includes an introduction section 23 having an introduction star wheel 22 for introducing the unsterilized container 20a into the sterilization area 21, an introduction side inversion area 24 for inverting the container to an inverted state, It comprises a sterilization zone 21 for spraying ozone water, a discharge side reversal zone 25 for returning the container to its original state, and a discharge part 27 having a discharge star wheel 26 for discharging the sterilized container 20b from the sterilization zone 21. . The sterilization apparatus is provided with a transport unit 29 including a transport conveyor 28 for transporting the unsterilized container 20a and the sterilized container 20b. A bottle body retainer 30 is formed on the transfer conveyor 28 of the transfer unit 29 so that the container does not fall during cleaning and transfer.

Inversion areas 24 and 25 of the sterilizer and sterilization area 2
1, a rotary table 31 and a container support 32 are provided at equal intervals with respect to the rotary table 31.
The container introduced from the introduction star wheel 22 is supported by this support 32, and the container is inverted in the introduction-side inversion area 24 before entering the sterilization area 21 with its mouth facing downward. Next, in the sterilization area 21, ozone water is injected into the inverted container to sterilize it, and in the discharge-side inversion area 25, the sterilized container is returned from the inverted status so that the container mouth portion is upward, and the discharge portion 27 discharges. It is delivered to the transfer conveyor 28 via the star wheel 26 for transfer and is transferred to the next filling / sealing step.

In the sterilization area 21, a guard 33 is provided at a position facing the rotary table 31 in order to prevent the ozone water from scattering due to the spraying of the ozone water. In addition, a minute gap is provided between the rotary table 31 and the container support 32 provided on the rotary table 31, and the guard to facilitate the rotation of the rotary table 31 and prevent the excess atmosphere from flowing out from a certain location due to the spray of ozone water. It is possible.

In FIG. 6, which is a vertical sectional view of the sterilizer of FIG. 5, the rotatable table 31 is provided with a rotatable container support 32 for putting the container upside down as described above, and the neck of the container is supported by the container. It is supported by the tool 32. The spray nozzle 33 is installed so that the ozone water is sprayed through the mouth of the container when the container is inverted. The nozzle 33 includes a nozzle lifting drive mechanism 34 and an opening / closing valve 3.
5 is attached, and high-concentration ozone water from an ozone water producing device (not shown) is supplied through the pipes 36 and 37 and the rotary joint 38.

The rotary type sterilizer is provided along the transporting section 29 of the container supply line, and the introducing section 23 and the unloading section 27 thereof are fixed to the outer wall 40, the outer upper wall (not shown), the star wheel 22, and the like. It is partitioned by a table or the like (not shown) below 26 and a rotating wall (not shown). The container neck is supported by the container support 32 of the turntable from the introduction part 23, and the elevating drive mechanism 34 is driven to insert the nozzle 33 into the container 20. Then, the opening / closing valve 35 is opened and the high-concentration ozone water is discharged into the container 20. As a result, the air in the container 20 is replaced with ozone water and held in the container 20. The atmospheric pressure in the sterilization area is slightly increased in association with the spray of ozone water, thereby preventing the contaminated air from flowing into the sterilization area 21. Further, not only in the vicinity of the container 20, but also in the sterilization area 21 is sterilized by ozone water overflowing from the container mouth or ozone gas separated from ozone water and filled to prevent contamination.

The sterilization operation is completed by keeping the ozone water inside the container 20 for a predetermined time. Generally speaking, the required holding time is about 3 seconds to 10 seconds. After the sterilization operation is completed, the opening / closing valve 35 is closed and the lift drive mechanism 34 moves the nozzle 33 upward. The sterilized container 20b is carried out to the conveyer via the discharge unit 27, and aseptic filling process (not shown).
Supply to.

In the specific example shown in the drawing, the container is held in an inverted position with the mouth located downward, and ozone water is sprayed on the inner surface of the container to prevent the ozone water from accumulating in the container. Although the step of draining water is omitted, not only the ozone water is sprayed on the inner surface of the container, but also the outer surface of the container can be sterilized at the same time by spraying ozone water on the outer surface of the container from above. Since it is sprayed from above the container, ozone water does not collect in the container. In addition, it is possible to sterilize not only the inner surface of the container but also the outer surface of the container at the same time by fully injecting ozone water into the container without inverting the container and further injecting it even after the infusion.

In the present invention, such a sterilizer is provided in the clean room having the above-mentioned structure. In this clean room, the sterilization area and the filling and sealing area are CLASS 100 according to the JIS B 9920 standard, and CLASS is the other parts. It is preferably maintained at about 10,000.

The aseptic filling method of the present invention can be effectively used for metal cans, glass bottles, plastic containers, various film containers, pouches and the like, and is particularly preferably used for those containing tea, dairy products and the like. be able to.

[0031]

According to the present invention, by performing sterilization, filling and sealing with the above-described structure, a series of steps of sterilization of a container, filling of contents, and sealing are performed under a sterile condition using high-concentration ozone water. A method of aseptic filling that can be carried out in accordance with the present invention, can treat ozone gas generated from the ozone water used without being emitted to the outside, and can prevent invasion of fungi, dust and the like from the outside. It is in.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an aseptic filling facility used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the flow of air in the clean room.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of a sterilizer that can be used in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical partial sectional view of a main part of the sterilizer of FIG.

[Explanation of sign]

 1 Clean Room 2 Container and Cap Inlet 3 Sterilization Area 4 Filled Sealed Area 5 Filled Sealed Container Outlet 6 Entry / Exit Passage 8 Chemical Cleaning Area 9 Water Cleaning Area 10 Inner Wall 11 Outer Wall 12 Outlet 14 Sterile Air Filter

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sterilization area in which a container is brought into contact with ozone water for sterilization and a sterilization container is filled with contents in a sterile atmosphere, and a filling and sealing area for stoppering is arranged as a closed space. A narrow space where the container can pass through the container inlet leading to the sterilization zone and the sealed container outlet leading to the filling and sealing zone, and the pressure in the sterilization zone and the filling and sealing zone is set to a positive pressure (P ₁ ) higher than the outside air, and the container inlet and sealing An aseptic filling method, characterized in that the atmosphere at the outlet of the container has a negative pressure (P ₂ ) lower than the external pressure. 2. The aseptic filling method according to claim 1, wherein a container cleaning area is provided on the inlet side of the container inlet and the outlet side of the sealed container outlet. 3. A sterilization area in which a container is brought into contact with ozone water for sterilization treatment and a sterilization container in which a content is filled in an aseptic atmosphere and a filling and sealing area for stoppering are arranged as a closed space, A narrow space where the container can pass through the container inlet leading to the sterilization zone and the sealed container outlet leading to the filling and sealing zone, and the direction of movement of the chemical cleaning area and water washing zone that absorb ozone at the container inlet and the sealed vessel outlet Aseptic filling method, characterized in that the aseptic filling method is carried out along the line. 4. The aseptic filling method according to claim 3, wherein the chemical liquid that absorbs ozone is an aqueous alkaline solution. 5. The aseptic filling method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure in the filling and sealing area is set to be slightly higher than the pressure in the sterilizing area. 6. A sterilization zone and a filling zone are divided by a double wall, a sterile air filter is arranged in the upper part, and the space inside the double wall is used as an ozone gas discharge passage, and an ozone discharge port is formed in the lower part of the inner wall. The aseptic filling method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is provided. 7. The aseptic filling method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein there are bottle supports at the container inlet and the front and rear regions thereof.