JPH0889562A - Method and device for sterilizing aseptic chamber with electron beam irradiation and aseptic filling and packaging device provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve safety and to surely sterilize an entire device in every corner by the inside of an aseptic chamber by spreading converted X rays, which are generated by irradiating a metal part with electron beams from an electron beam irradiator inside the aseptic chamber, over inside the aseptic chamber. CONSTITUTION: Concerning the method for sterilizing an aseptic chamber 10 with electron beam irradiation, the electron beams irradiate from an electron beam irradiator 12 housed inside the aseptic chamber 10 covered with metal, the converted X rays are generated by irradiating a metal part 13 with the electron beams, and the inside of the aseptic chamber 10 is sterilized by spreading those converted X rays over the inside of the aseptic chamber 10. Therefore, since the converted X rays are generated before the start of filling/packaging and those X rays straightly advances inside the aseptic chamber 10, respective parts inside the chamber 10 are surely sterilized. Besides, since the aseptic chamber 10 is sterilized by the irradiation of electron beams before filling/packaging into vessel, the vessel is surely filled/packaged in an aseptic state, no bacterium is mixed in the state of a final product, and a sanitary state is kept.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes electron beam irradiation,
The present invention relates to a sterilizing method and apparatus for an aseptic chamber in an aseptic filling and packaging machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, aseptic chambers have been generally sterilized by using steam, gas, hydrogen peroxide spray, etc. in aseptic filling and packaging machines such as liquid paper containers, paper cups,
It is widely used for filling and sealing foods in containers such as plastic cups and trays.

However, the above-mentioned conventional method has various problems as described below. First, in steam sterilization, if the shape of the aseptic chamber is complicated, the steam will be cooled due to problems such as heat capacity, heat dissipation, and flow path resistance, and sterilizable high-temperature steam cannot be obtained. There is a problem that the time required for the sterilization process becomes long due to drainage of steam.

Further, in gas sterilization, if a seal failure (sealing failure) or the like occurs in the aseptic chamber, it has an adverse effect on the operator, leaving a problem in terms of practicality.

In the case of hydrogen peroxide spray, there are drawbacks that the spray angle and the pipe diameter are not appropriate, and hydrogen peroxide accumulates only in the vicinity of the nozzle due to variations in particle size. Since hydrogen peroxide does not reach well and a sterilization failure part occurs, the amount sprayed inevitably tends to be excessive in order to prevent it. As a result, hydrogen peroxide is mixed into the final product immediately after the start of production in the aseptic filling and packaging machine, which is a problem in terms of food hygiene, and at the same time, there is a problem in terms of environmental pollution.

Therefore, various sterilization methods and devices by electron beam irradiation have been proposed in order to solve the problems of the certainty and safety of the above-mentioned conventional sterilization methods (for example, JP-A-60-99829). Etc.) are for sterilizing the containers or packages to be filled, but there has been no apparatus for sterilizing the aseptic chamber itself by electron beam irradiation.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, is highly safe, and sterilizes a sterile chamber using electron beam irradiation for surely sterilizing the entire apparatus. Methods and sterilization devices are provided.

[0008]

The present invention has been conceived to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an electron beam is irradiated from an electron beam irradiation device housed in a sterile chamber covered with metal to a metal part. A sterilized chamber sterilization method by electron beam irradiation, characterized in that a converted X-ray is generated by applying an electron beam and the converted X-ray is spread throughout the sterile chamber to sterilize the inside of the sterile chamber. Electron beam irradiation comprising an X-ray irradiation device, a converted X-ray generation metal part and a sterile chamber covering at least the converted X-ray generation metal part, and a shield for preventing X-ray leakage is provided around the sterile chamber. Aseptic chamber sterilizer.

[0009]

The present invention has the above-mentioned structure. Before the filling / packing is started, the electron beam hits the converted X-ray generating metal portion by the electron beam irradiation to generate X-rays, and the X-rays go straight through the sterile chamber. By doing so, various parts in the chamber are surely sterilized. Further, by sterilizing the aseptic chamber by electron beam irradiation before filling / packing the container, the container can be surely filled / packaged in an aseptic state, and bacteria are not mixed in the final product state, Hygiene is maintained.

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram when the present invention is applied to an aseptic chamber of a liquid filling and packaging machine. Reference numeral 10 denotes sterilization / filling / sealing of a bottom-molded packaging material 11. Aseptic chamber for irradiation, which includes an electron beam irradiation device 12 and a conversion X-ray generation metal part 13, and emits an electron beam from the electron beam irradiation device 12 housed in the aseptic chamber 10 covered with metal. Then, an electron beam is applied to the converted X-ray generation metal part 13 to generate converted X-rays, and the converted X-rays are generated.
The line is spread throughout the sterile chamber 10 to sterilize the interior of the sterile chamber.

The sterile chamber 10 further has a blower 14, a sterilizing filter 15, and a sterile air supply pipe 1 for keeping the sterile chamber at a positive pressure to maintain a sterile condition.
6, an aseptic tank 17 for storing sterilized liquid food, an aseptic valve 18, a film supply roll 19 for the lid material, an ultraviolet irradiation device 21 for sterilizing the film 20 for the lid material, etc. are connected. Further, a sealing device 22 for sealing the lid material on the packaging material 11 filled with the contents
Are arranged, and individual products are discharged from the product outlet 23.

In order to sterilize the inside of the aseptic chamber 10 having the above structure, the electron beam irradiation device 12 irradiates the converted X-ray generation metal part 13 with an electron beam. The X-rays diffusely reflect in the sterile chamber 10 and sterilize the entire chamber.
Here, a shield 24 is provided outside the sterile chamber 10 so that X-rays do not leak to the outside (thin line portion in FIG. 1).
Sterilize with steam outside this range.

Next, examples of the present invention will be described.

[0015]

【Example】

<Example 1> B. subtilis B. Pumilus ATCC27142 was applied so as to be 10 ⁶ / stainless steel plate to make a biological indicator, and the applied Bacillus subtilis was naturally dried, and then this biological indicator was attached to the positions a to j in the sterile chamber. Accelerating electron voltage of electron beam irradiation device is 2
00 keV, diameter 90 mm as metal piece for conversion X-ray generation
The electron beam was directed toward the tungsten sphere for 15 minutes using the tungsten sphere.

After completion of electron beam irradiation, the biological indicator was removed and recovered, and 0.1% of the surfactant was used.
The surviving bacteria were collected with a tween80 washing solution to collect TSA medium (T
Ripticase Soy Agar = medium for culturing bacteria) was subjected to pour culture for 24 hours, and the number of surviving bacteria was measured.
The results are shown in Table 1.

[0017]

[Table 1]

<Example 2> B. subtilis B. subtilis was placed in a bottom-shaped container having a length of 5 cm, a width of 5 cm, and a depth of 0.9 cm. pumi
lucATCC27142 was inoculated to 10 ⁶ / container, supplied into the aseptic chamber from the container supply section of FIG. 1, and accelerated electron voltage 200 k from the electron beam irradiation device 12.
The electron beam of ev is irradiated.

Next, thioglycolic acid medium I was placed in the container.
After filling I (manufactured by Nissui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) and sealing the lid material, a total of 3000 individual products are taken out from the product outlet 23, the lid material is peeled off, the mixture is incubated at 37 ° C. for 2 weeks, and then the contents It was visually confirmed whether or not deterioration had occurred. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0020]

[Table 2]

[0021]

Since the present invention has the above constitution,
Unlike the case of conventional steam sterilization, the sterilization failure due to the pressure drop of steam does not occur, and the excessive spraying of hydrogen peroxide water as in the case of sterilization with hydrogen peroxide water spray Hydrogen peroxide solution does not remain in the chamber, and product contamination does not occur, so that the chamber can be sterilized reliably and safely.

Further, since the chamber is sterilized by electron beam irradiation before filling / packing in the container, the container can be surely filled / packed in an aseptic state, and germs are not mixed as a final product, and hygiene is possible. Is maintained and safe.

[0023]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of an aseptic filling and packaging machine according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Aseptic chamber 18 ... Ascept valve 11 ... Packaging material 19 ... Film supply roll for lid material 12 ... Electron beam irradiation device 20 ... Film for lid material 13 ... Converted X-ray Metal part for generation 21 ... Ultraviolet irradiation device 14 ... Blower 22 ... Sealing device 15 ... Sterilization filter 23 ... Product outlet 16 ... Aseptic air supply pipe 24 ... Shield 17. ..Ascept tanks

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Etsuo Shimamura 1-5-1 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sterilization chamber for converting X-rays by irradiating an electron beam from an electron beam irradiating device housed in a sterile chamber covered with metal to irradiate the metal part with the electron beam to generate converted X-rays. A method for sterilizing an aseptic chamber by electron beam irradiation, which comprises sterilizing the inside of the aseptic chamber by spreading the entire interior. 2. An electron beam irradiation device, a converted X-ray generation metal part, and a sterile chamber that covers at least the converted X-ray generation metal part, and a shield for preventing X-ray leakage is provided around the sterile chamber. Aseptic chamber sterilizer by electron beam irradiation. 3. A means including a container supply unit, a container transfer unit, a content filling unit and a container sterilization unit is arranged in a sterile chamber,
An aseptic filling and packaging apparatus comprising an electron beam irradiation device provided in the vicinity of the container transfer section and a conversion X-ray generation metal part provided inside a sterile chamber opposite to the electron beam irradiation apparatus with the transfer path interposed therebetween.