JPH0912097A - Pressurized pouring device of bag-in-box - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To pour out a liquid in a bag in a biologically germ-free state. CONSTITUTION: For pouring out a liquid in a bag 1 being a bag-in-box, a closed container 10 having pressure-resistance and airtightness which can accommodate the bag 1 is provided and a pressurizing gas feed line 18 can be connected to the container 10 to feed pressurizing gas and a pouring device for pouring out a liquid in the bag 1 in a germ-free state is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressure dispenser for pressurizing a bag in a bag-in-box to dispense liquid therein.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a flexible plastic bag filled with liquids such as juice, soft drinks such as cola, liquor such as beer, wine, etc. is stored in an outer box made of corrugated cardboard. A bag-in-box in which a liquid is poured from the market for sale is widely used.

To dispense liquid from the bag of the bag-in-box, as shown in FIG. 15, a spout 2 is attached to the bag 1, and a pipe 3 is connected to the spout 2.
A suction pump 4 and a cooling pipe 5 are connected to an intermediate portion of the pipe 3 so that the liquid in the bag 1 sucked by the suction pump 4 is supplied into the cup 7 through the cock 6.

However, according to the pouring mechanism using the suction pump 4 as described above, the liquid such as the soft drink sucked from the bag 1 passes through the suction pump 4, the cooling pipe 5 and the like. Microorganisms are easily mixed in the liquid in the suction pump 4 and the cooling pipe 5 to cause microbial contamination, and since the suction pump 4 and the cooling pipe 5 have complicated internal structures, washing or the like is very difficult to perform in normal handling, In addition to this, it is necessary to consider microbial contamination in the spout 2 and the pipe 3 attached to the bag 1,
As a result, there are many problems in hygiene.

Therefore, the present inventors have presented many inventions in order to solve the above-mentioned problem of contamination by microorganisms.
That is, the bag to be housed in the outer box has a double structure of an inner bag and an outer bag, and the outer bag is filled with gas to pressurize the liquid in the inner bag and pour out the liquid (actually, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-31108, JP-A-1-31108
No. 226587), a method in which a bag is housed in a sealed container, and the sealed container is filled with gas to pressurize the liquid (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-267194).
A method of using a detachable connector that has undergone a sanitary treatment at the spout of the bag (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-37976).
A method in which a connector can be aseptically connected to the spout of the bag in an as-sealed state to maintain sterility in the piping path (Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-23173), and the spout of the bag,
When the liquid is not poured out, the end of the through hole on the bag side can be sealed so as to maintain sterility (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-114738), and the tip of the spout of the bag is simply cut off. For example, there is a device that makes it possible to immediately and aseptically pour out a liquid (JP-A-7-52974).

[0006]

However, in any of the above techniques, since the connecting metal fittings, pipes or tubes are touched by human hands or reused, if the cleaning and sterilization are not sufficiently performed, It was difficult to pour the liquid from the bag in a completely sterile condition.

In view of the above, the present invention allows a liquid to be poured out from a bag without being contaminated by microorganisms, and can be sanitarily poured without impairing the flavor of the liquid, and can be washed or washed. An object of the present invention is to provide a pressurized dispenser for a bag-in-box that does not require sanitation and can be easily maintained and managed.

[0008]

As a means for solving the problems of the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention is for pouring out the liquid therein from the bag of a bag-in-box. Is equipped with a pressure-tight and gas-tight hermetic container, to which a pressurizing gas supply system for introducing pressurizing gas can be freely connected, and the liquid in the bag is aseptically discharged. It is characterized in that it has a pouring device for making it.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the spouting device has a sterile cap fitted to the spout of the bag and having an aseptic structure in the upper surface region, and a sterile tube having a piercing needle capable of being pierced into the upper surface of the cap. And a connecting mechanism which is provided on the lid of the hermetically sealed container and allows the piecing needle of the aseptic tube to penetrate the aseptic cap.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the connecting mechanism includes a tube holder that holds the piecing needle portion of the sterile tube, and a handle that is provided on the lid of the hermetically sealed container so as to be up and down. The vertical rotation of the tube holder pushes down the tube holder so that the piecing needle is pierced through the sterile cap.

[0011]

The piecing needle of the sterile tube is held in the sterile tube holder of the connection mechanism, and the piecing needle is pierced on the upper surface of the sterile cap of the bag by operating the handle to push down the tube holder, and the sterile tube The inside of the bag and the inside of the bag are in communication with each other, so that the liquid in the bag can be poured out in an aseptic state.

When the pressurizing gas is supplied through the pressurizing gas supply system into the closed container to apply the external pressure to the bag, the liquid in the bag is microbially aseptically discharged through the aseptic tube.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an external appearance of the present invention in use, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which a main body 11 and a lid 12 of the hermetically sealed container 10 are separated. The hermetically sealed container 10 has a bag 1 in a bag 1 inside. With a volume that can be charged with, such as stainless steel having pressure resistance and airtightness,
The main body 11 and the lid 12 are fitted together by a bayonet method in which convex portions 13 and 14 provided at predetermined intervals on each peripheral edge are in sliding contact with each other, and a lock portion 15 protruding at symmetrical positions on the diameter line. , 16 to firmly fix the lid 12 to the main body 11.

A connecting mechanism 17 for a spouting device is provided on the upper surface of the central position of the lid 12, and a pressurizing gas supply system for supplying a pressurizing gas, for example, compressed air, is provided at a position closer to one side. The tube 18 is airtightly connected by the connecting portion 19. 20 indicates a safety valve.

In the illustrated embodiment, the spouting device is an aseptic cap 2 which is airtightly fitted into a spout 2 of a bag 1.
1, an aseptic tube 22 piercingly connected to the upper surface of the aseptic cap 21, and a piecing needle 23 at one end of the aseptic tube 22 are airtightly attached to the upper surface of the aseptic cap 21 of the bag 1 loaded in the airtight container 10. It has the above-mentioned connecting mechanism 17 for piercing.

The sterile cap 21 can be screwed onto the spout 2 of the bag 1 to seal the spout 2 as shown in FIG. 3 and its cross section in FIG. The upper surface region of the cap 21 is sterilized by an electron beam sterilizer, an ultraviolet sterilizer, or a sterilizing agent, and a protective thin film 24 is attached to the cap 21 to provide a sterile structure. When the above-mentioned sterilization treatment is performed with an electron beam or an ultraviolet ray, it is possible to carry out the sterilization treatment after the protective thin film 24 is attached in advance.

FIG. 5 shows the appearance of another embodiment of the aseptic cap 21 of the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows a cross section. In this embodiment, a concave portion 25, which is preferably concentric with the cap 21, is formed in the upper surface region of the cap 21, and a bactericidal agent such as ethanol, peracetic acid, sucrose fatty acid ester, or an antibacterial agent is formed in the concave portion 25. The impregnated pad 26 is fitted, and a protective thin film 24 is further attached to the upper surface of the cap 21 to form a sterile structure in which the pad 26 is sealed in the recess 25. The protective thin film 24 in this embodiment is preferably a water vapor permeable film.

As the material of the cap 21, plastic or aluminum can be used, and as the material of the protective thin film 24, aluminum or plastic (polyethylene film, polypropylene film, etc.) can be used. The protective thin film 24 is
In order to make it easy to peel from the upper surface of the cap 21, a projecting piece 24a is provided at a part of the peripheral edge so as to be slightly projected outward from the upper surface region of the cap 21, and is pinched and peeled. .

FIG. 7 shows an example of the aseptic tube 22 according to the present invention. The aseptic tube 22 for a normal bag-in-box has an outer diameter of 6 to 10 mm, a wall thickness of about 1 mm and a continuous withstand pressure of 1 kg / cm ^2. The above materials are used, and are formed of a flexible material, for example, a plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride.

A piecing needle 23 is provided at one end of the sterile tube 22. The piecing needle 23 is made of a material such as stainless steel, ABS resin, Duracon, high-pressure polyethylene, polypropylene or the like. As shown in a sectional view of FIG. To make it easier, the needle portion 27 is diagonally cut,
A flange portion 28 is formed at a base position of the needle portion 27, and a bamboo shoot-shaped protrusion 2 for preventing the stopper 2 is formed behind the flange portion 28.
9 and 29 are formed, and the rear end portion 30 has a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the aseptic tube 22 so that it can be easily inserted into the aseptic tube 22. In the piecing needle, for example, when the inner diameter of the sterile tube 22 is 4 mm, the outer diameter of the rear end portion 30 of the piecing needle 23 is 3.
9 mm, and the inner diameter of the needle portion 27 is 2.5 to 3.5 mm.

The piecing needle 23 is inserted into the aseptic tube 22 from the rear end 30 thereof, and the protrusions 29, 2
9 and the flange portion 28, the aseptic tube 22 is expanded and closely fitted, and the end portion 22a of the aseptic tube 22 extends to the flange surface 28a of the flange portion 28 and is bent with a reduced diameter along the flange surface 28a. It is placed at a position close to the outer circumference of the needle portion 27.

The aseptic tube 22 and the piecing needle 23 are sterilized in advance and enclosed in a vinyl outer bag 31 as a hermetically sealed state. When the bag is used, the outer bag 31 is broken and the aseptic tube 22 is taken out and placed on the cap 21. Connected to use. When the above sterilization process is performed by an electron beam sterilizer, the sterilization process can be performed after the aseptic tube 22 is sealed in the outer bag 31. Therefore, the sterile tube 22 (including the piecing needle 23) is discarded.

Next, the connection mechanism 17 will be described.
The connecting mechanism 17 includes left and right pedestals 32, 32 fixed to the upper surface of the lid 12 of the closed container 10 as shown in FIGS.
A pair of left and right handles 33, 33 rotatably supported in the up and down direction, and a sterile tube holder 34 that is pushed down by the downward rotation operation of the handles 33, 33.
It is composed of

The tube holder 34 holds the outer peripheries of the sterile tube 22 and the piecing needle 23. The tube holder 34 is divided along the diametrical line as shown in FIG. Each of the two divided parts 34A and 34B has a shape and is connected by a hinge part 35 at a lower part of one side thereof to be openable and closable, and is closed on a side part opposite to the hinge part 35. Locking claws 36 and 36 'that are engaged with each other to maintain the closed state and locking portions 37 and 37' that engage with the locking claws 36 and 36 'are provided.

The above-mentioned respective pieces 34A, 34B have tube holding portions 38, 38 in the upper portion thereof and the bag 1 in the lower portion thereof.
Attachment parts 39, 39 fitted around the spout 2 of the bag
However, these are connected by a plurality of continuous belts 40, 40 that are bendable at their peripheral positions.

Lock claws 41, 41 are vertically provided at the lower portions of the tube holding portions 38, 38, and bag mounting portions 39, 3 are provided.
When the tube holders 38, 38 descend to 9 and the needle portion 27 of the sterile tube 22 held by the holders 38, 38 is pierced by the sterile cap 21, the lock claws 41, 41 are engaged. Engagement holes 42, 42 are provided.

The tube holding portions 38, 38 are formed with recesses 43, 43 at the central position of their mating surfaces, into which half of the outer circumference of the piecing needle 23 portion of the sterile tube 22 is fitted. 22 is drawn out, and the needle portion 27 of the piecing needle 23 is projected from the lower part.

A pair of claws 4 for temporarily holding the sterile tube 22 are provided at positions on both sides of the recess 43 of the one tube holding portion 38.
4 and 44 are provided so as to face each other, and holes 45 and 45 into which the claws 44 and 44 are fitted are provided at corresponding positions of the other tube holding portion 38.

Grooves 47, 47 for holding the collar portion 46 at the base of the spout 2 of the bag 1 are formed on the inner periphery of the lower portion of the bag mounting portions 39, 39.
Bag 1 by fitting 7, 47 from both sides of the collar 46
The lower end is formed so as to abut the shoulder of the bag 1. And the tube holding part 3
As shown in FIG. 10, the needle portion 27 of the aseptic tube 22 held by the needles 8 and 38 when they are not pushed down against the upper surface of the aseptic cap 21 fitted to the spout 2 of the bag 1. It is designed to be located at a slight interval.

A packing 48 is attached to the lower surface of the lid 12 of the airtight container 10 by a packing retainer 49.
This packing 48 has a ring shape as shown in a half section in FIG. 13, and has dual ring-shaped leg pieces 50 and 51 provided obliquely outward at the lower portion thereof, and the outer leg pieces are provided. 5
0 is formed to be slightly longer than the inner leg piece 51, and when it hits the shoulder portion of the bag 1, it is bent outward and comes into close contact. Therefore, when the pressurizing gas is introduced into the closed container 10, the leg pieces 50 and 51 receive pressure,
The bag 1 comes into closer contact with the shoulder portion of the bag 1 for sealing.

A pair of the handles 33, 33 are provided symmetrically to each other, and the pedestal 3 is fixed to the upper surface of the lid 12.
2, 32 are pivotally supported by shafts 52, 52 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.
It is said to be 53. The cam surface 53 contacts the upper surface of the tube holding portion 38, and when the handle 33 is pushed down, the height of the cam surface 53 pushes down the holding portion 38. The cam surface 53 is formed by a plurality of (two in the figure) convex ridges 53a, 53a in order to reduce the pushing-down torque. The highest point of this cam surface 53 is the tube holding portion 38.
When the handle 33 exceeds the upper surface of the handle, that is, after passing the thought point, it becomes difficult for the handle 33 to return upward, and the function of maintaining the depressed state of the handle 33 is maintained.

A window hole 54 is formed vertically through the handle 33 near the shaft 52, and a shaft 55 is formed on the pedestal 32.
The upper part of the lever 56 pivotally supported by the penetrating through the window hole 54, the lower end of the lever 56 has a hook 57, and the hook formed on the outer peripheral portion of the bag mounting portion 39 of the sterile tube holder 34. The hole 58 can be engaged. The lever 56 has a handle 33 based on the shape of the window hole 54.
Is in the standing posture (shown by the solid line in FIG. 10), the hook 57 is placed in a position away from the locking hole 58, and the handle 3
When 3 is rotated in a slightly downward direction, the lever 56 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 10 at the edge of the window hole 54, and its hook 57 is automatically engaged with the locking hole 58, and the bag mounting portion 3
9 is firmly held.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. Prior to loading the bag 1 sealed with the aseptic cap 21 into the main body 11 of the closed container 10, a sterile tube holder 34 is provided.
The piecing needle 23 portion of the sterile tube 22 is fitted into the recess 43 from between the claws 44, 44 of the one tube holding portion 38, and the collar portion 46 of the bag 1 is fitted in the grooves 47, 47 of the bag attaching portions 39, 39. Aseptic tube holder 34
Close together. As a result, the locking claws 36, 36 'and the locking portions 37, 37' are engaged with each other to maintain the closed state, and the lid 12
Insert from the lower surface side of the into the center hole and set.

Next, the bag 1 is loaded into the main body 11 of the closed container 10, and the lid 12 thereof is slightly rotated to bring the convex portion 14 of the peripheral edge and the convex portion 13 of the main body 11 into close contact with each other, and to lock the lock portion 15. , 16 fix the lid 12 to the main body 11.

After this, the handle 3 of the connection mechanism 17
When both 3 and 33 are rotated in the direction of pushing down, the cam surfaces 53 and 53 at the tip end contact the upper surfaces of the tube holding portions 38 and 38 of the sterile tube holder 34, and the levers 56 and 56 rotate during that time. The hook 57 at the lower end of the lever is the locking hole 5.
8 and receives the reaction force of the sterile tube holder 34.

When the handles 33, 33 are further pushed down, the continuous bands 40, 40 ... Bend to lower the tube holding portion 38, and the needle portion 27 of the piecing needle 23 is pierced on the upper surface of the aseptic cap 21 to establish a connected state. At the same time, the lock claws 41, 41 engage with the engagement holes 42, 42 to maintain the connected state. At this time, the end 22a of the aseptic tube 22 comes into close contact with the upper surface of the aseptic cap 21 to exert the function of packing, and the liquid in the bag 1 is ready to be aseptically discharged.

Regarding the pouring, the pressurizing gas such as compressed air is supplied through the tube 18 of the pressurizing gas supply system to increase the pressure in the closed container 10 and apply the external pressure to the bag 1 to inject the internal liquid. Will be issued. The other end of the aseptic tube 22 is used as a spout, and for example, a regular crushing type valve mechanism provided on the spout machine side controls the opening and closing to dispense a fixed amount.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the liquid in the bag can be aseptically poured out.
In the case of beverages, the flavor is not impaired. Further, claim 2,
According to 3, the inside of the bag and the pouring tube can be aseptically connected by a one-touch operation, and the liquid in the bag is passed through the sterile tube through the aseptic tube by supplying the pressurizing gas into the closed container for accommodating the bag. Can be dispensed aseptically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the lid of the closed container of FIG. 1 is separated.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing an example of a sterile cap according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing another example of the sterile cap.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a sterile tube according to the present invention.

8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the piecing needle portion of FIG.

9 is a plan view of the connection mechanism in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the sterile tube holder in the connection mechanism when the tool is developed.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 13 is a front view in which a half portion of a packing provided on the lower surface of the lid of the closed container is a cross section.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a handle of the connection mechanism.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 bag 2 spout 10 closed container 11 main body 12 lid 15, 16 lock part 17 connection mechanism 18 gas supply system (tube) for pressurization 21 aseptic cap 22 aseptic tube 23 piecing needle 24 protective thin film 26 pad 27 needle part 28 flange part 31 Outer bag 32 Cradle 33 Handle 34 Aseptic tube holder 38 Tube holding part 39 Bag attachment part 40 Continuous band 41 Lock claw 42 Engagement hole 43 Recess 44 Claw 46 Collar part 47 Groove 48 Packing 50, 51 Leg piece 53 Cam surface 54 window hole 56 lever 57 hook 58 locking hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A bag for in-box liquid for pouring out the liquid therein, comprising a pressure-resistant and airtight closed container capable of accommodating the bag, and adding to the closed container. A pressurizing dispenser for a bag-in-box, which is connectable to a pressurizing gas supply system for introducing a pressurizing gas and has a dispenser for aseptically extracting the liquid in the bag. 2. The dispensing device comprises a sterile cap fitted to a spout of the bag and having an aseptic structure in an upper surface region, a sterile tube having a piercing needle capable of being pierced on the upper surface of the cap, and the closed container. 2. The bag-in-box pressurizing dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting mechanism which is provided on the lid of the bag and allows the piecing needle of the aseptic tube to penetrate the aseptic cap. 3. The connecting mechanism includes a tube holder that holds a piecing needle portion of the aseptic tube, and a handle that is provided on a lid of the closed container so as to be up and down. The pressurizing dispenser for a bag-in-box according to claim 2, wherein the tube holder is pushed down by the rotation so that the piecing needle penetrates the sterile cap.