JPH11105830A - Method for adjusting air-conditioning of container transfer path to clean room - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a container treated in a container transfer path to a clean room from being re-contaminated by closing three faces including both sides faces and a ceiling of the container transfer path to the clean room and by continuously blowing clean air into the path from a ceiling direction via an air bactericidal filter. SOLUTION: A transfer path C to a first clean room where a pre-washed container 14 is cleaned and sterilized, or a container transfer path C to a next finishing rinse booth in the first clean room or further a transfer path C to a second clean room where a filling process is done is always kept in a state wherein skirts 15 are hanging on both side faces and the path is filled with sterile air continuously blown from a ceiling 16 via an air bactericidal filter. Therefore a container 14 which is being transferred to any clean room irrespective of which process is to be done can be transferred to a next process smoothly without being contaminated during transfer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for adjusting the air conditioning of a container transfer passage to a clean room in a sterilizing and filling system for containers filled with various drinks such as drinking water, juice, oolong tea, and milk coffee. Specifically, in the container sterilization filling system, for example, a container transfer passage from the pre-cleaning step to a sterilization cleaning booth in the first clean room and / or a second clean room in which contents are filled from the first clean room to the container. Air conditioning of the transfer passages to maintain the cleanliness of the system so that the treated containers are not re-contaminated during transfer in the transfer passage to About the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it has been known that when filling various kinds of beverages into containers such as bottles and cans, washing, sterilization, finishing rinsing, filling of contents, and closing of containers are carried out. Have been. Usually, these steps
Cleaning and sterilization of containers may be performed in a booth partitioned in a clean room, and subsequently, finish rinsing, content filling, and lid closing may be performed in a booth partitioned in another clean room. At this time, the booth in the first clean room and the booth in the second clean room are both maintained at class 100 in the clean room.

[0003] In this step, for example, in the step of cleaning and sterilizing the container in the first clean room, a chemical (bactericide) is often used for cleaning and sterilizing the container. For example, in a disinfection method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-58744 proposed by the present applicant, a peracetic acid-based disinfectant mixed with hydrogen peroxide is used as a disinfectant.

This method is excellent in that the container can be sterilized in a short time without increasing the concentration of the germicide. In such a sterilization method using chemicals, since the inside of the sterilization apparatus is filled with the chemical or air containing the chemical, the worker cannot enter here, and all the work is performed by remote control under computer control. Will be

The booth for cleaning and disinfecting includes a portion into which a pre-cleaned or pre-cleaned container is carried in, and a container discharging portion for feeding the container after cleaning and sterilizing to the next filling step.
Each of the lower portions of the booth is configured to be open to the first clean room. Therefore, sufficient care is taken to prevent the air containing the chemical in the booth from leaking into the first clean room from these two open portions.

[0006] The container which has been cleaned and sterilized by the agent heated in the first clean room is then sent to a finishing rinser chamber for finishing and cleaning the container. These two processes are divided into classes 10,0
It is performed in a clean room kept at 00.

[0007] In addition to the cleaning / sterilizing system, the same applies to the case of performing a step of performing a finish rinsing, a step of filling the contents, and a subsequent step of closing the lid in a separated clean room. At this time, contamination of the container in the container transfer passage to the clean room is an important problem.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, in the present invention, a method for adjusting air conditioning so that contaminated air does not enter into a container transfer passage to a clean room, regardless of which process is performed in the clean room, is disclosed. It is intended to be recognized as a problem and to solve it.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above object, and is characterized by a means for filling a container transfer passage to a clean room with clean air.

That is, according to the present invention, in the container sterilizing and filling system, three sides of the container transfer passage to the clean room, namely, both sides and the top surface, are partitioned and closed from the top surface direction through the air filtering filter. A method for adjusting the air conditioning of a container transfer passage to a clean room, wherein clean air is continuously blown into the passage is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a method for adjusting the air conditioning of the container transfer passage to the above-mentioned clean room in which the lower side of the container transfer passage is partitioned by a skirt.

Further, according to the present invention, the skirt comprises:
The present invention provides a method for adjusting the air conditioning of a container transfer passage to the above-mentioned clean room which is formed of an antistatically treated plastic plate and is removably suspended on a side wall surface.

Further, according to the present invention, the air conditioning of the container transfer passage to the clean room in which the positive pressure in the clean room controlling the filling step is set to the maximum and the positive pressure in the clean room controlling the cleaning and sterilizing step is set to the minimum. An adjustment method is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, when the apparatus is not operated, the container transfer passage to the clean room for reducing the air flow of the entire apparatus to about half or less of the operation time while maintaining the positive pressure degree. Is provided.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates the entire configuration of a container sterilizing and filling system, and is a schematic diagram for explaining how the air conditioning adjustment of the present invention is performed in this system. The container 14 is first carried into the general machine room E,
Usually, pre-cleaning is performed here. The general machine room E is arranged outside the clean room. The prewashed container 14 is sent from the discharge unit 2 of the general machine room to the cleaning and sterilizing booth F from the carry-in unit 3 of the first clean room by the transfer device. Although any type of container transport device can be used, any clean device can be used.However, in terms of maintaining cleanliness, the completed container is transported accurately without falling or slipping.
Top chain conveyors are suitable.

In the present invention, first, the transfer passage C-2 from the general machine room E to the washing and disinfecting booth F is filled with clean air. Above the transfer passage, an air filtering filter 11 is provided, and sterile air is continuously fed. Above the air filtering filter, an air supply fan 1 for supplying air in the clean room
2 is desirably provided. As is clear from FIG. 2 showing the II section of the transfer passage, both side surfaces of the passage are
The skirt 15 is hung down at least approximately half above the height of the container, and is configured as a tunnel as a whole.

In FIG. 1, A indicates a first clean room, and B indicates a second clean room. In this example, in the first clean room, a washing and disinfecting booth F,
Subsequently, a finishing rinse booth G is arranged.
The containers fed into the cleaning and disinfecting booth F from the container carry-in section 3 are subjected to cleaning and disinfecting with a chemical as described later in this booth. The container 14 that has been washed and sterilized is transferred from the discharge unit 4 to the finishing rinse booth G in the next step. This booth is also provided with a carry-in portion 5, and the transfer passage C-1 therebetween is also formed as a tunnel-like passage whose both sides are partitioned by a skirt similarly to the transfer passage C-2 described above, and air is supplied from above. It is preferable to fill with sterile air through a sterilization filter.

The container 14 having been subjected to the finish rinsing is transferred from the discharge section 6 to the filling chamber in the next step by the transfer device. The booth H that controls the filling process is disposed in the second clean room, and the transfer passage C between the booth H and C-2 is also C-1 and C-2.
In the same manner as above, a skirt is formed on both sides in a tunnel shape, and aseptic air is continuously blown from above through an air filtering filter 11. The container, which has been completely filled and closed, is carried out of the carrying-out section 8, exits the second clean room, and is subjected to an inspection process. The air-conditioning means for the transfer passage of the present invention in the container sterilizing and filling system has been described above. The features of the invention defined in each claim will be briefly described.

<Invention according to claim 1> An important feature of the present invention is that a pre-cleaned container is firstly transferred to a first clean room where cleaning and sterilization is performed, or the first cleaning room.
The container transfer passage to the next finishing rinse booth in the clean room, and further, the transfer passage to the second clean room where the filling process is performed, a skirt is hung on both side surfaces, and from the top surface through the air disinfection filter 11. The purpose of the present invention is to always maintain a state filled with sterile air continuously blown.

The container transfer passage C is provided in the first clean room A
The container 14 that has been washed, sterilized and finished is sent to the second clean room B by the transport means 13 such as a top chain conveyor in an upright state, and the configuration is shown in FIG. As described above, the side surfaces (skirts) 15 and 15 supported by the columns 17 and the top surface 16 are in a state of being partitioned and closed. Above this, an air filtering filter 11 is arranged, and a fan 12
The air sent from the container is sterilized and continuously sent to the container transfer passage.

As the air filtering filter 11, HEP is used.
A filter or a filter called a ULPA filter having a sterilization performance of 99.97% or more is used, and the wind speed is usually about 0.3 to 0.5 m / sec. The container which has been cleaned, sterilized and finished in the first clean room passes through the transfer passage C-1 which is set in a clean state, so that the container is sterilized in the finishing rinse booth G arranged in the same first clean room. Finishing rinsing with water will be completed successfully.

An example of cleaning and sterilization using a chemical in a container cleaning and sterilizing chamber will be described. As the drug, a peracetic acid-based disinfectant containing hydrogen peroxide is suitably used. The cleaning and disinfection with the peracetic acid-based disinfectant is performed as follows. That is, the container brought into the cleaning / sterilization chamber in the first clean room A by the transport device 13 performs cleaning and sterilization of the container by bringing the medicine into contact with at least the inner surface thereof. It is desirable that this drug is heated to a temperature of about 65 ° C. in order to enhance the bactericidal effect.

In this cleaning / sterilizing chamber, a temperature controlling means for adjusting the temperature of the peracetic acid-based disinfectant containing hydrogen peroxide to a suitable temperature, and a peracetic acid-based disinfectant controlled by the temperature controlling means. And a plurality of disinfectant supplying means for supplying at least an inner surface of the container to the container.

Examples of the peracetic acid fungicide include P ₃ -oxonia aktiv and P ₃ -oxonia aktiv 90 manufactured by Henkel Japan.
Toyo-activ and the like can be exemplified, and it is preferable from the viewpoint of drug stability that the mixing ratio of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide is 1 to 5 hydrogen peroxide with respect to 1 peracetic acid in weight ratio. .

In the container washing / sterilization zone, the above-mentioned medicine is filled into an upright container to sterilize the container and the medicine is discharged, or the medicine is ejected from below the inverted container by a nozzle. Arbitrarily adopted.

Prior to sterilization with a chemical, preliminary cleaning with warm water may be performed. Sterilization of peracetic acid-based germicides is shortened by increasing the temperature,
The time required for sterilization by fully filling the container is approximately 3 minutes at 37 ° C, 1 minute at 50 ° C, and 20 seconds at 65 ° C. The container that has been sterilized with the chemical is washed with sterile water by a finishing rinser in the next step.

The container, which has been washed and sterilized in such a state, is discharged in an upright state from the container discharge part 2 to the transfer passage C-1 by the transfer means 13 such as a conveyor, and is passed through the finishing rinse in the second clean room B. It will be subjected to the filling step H to be performed. Therefore, the transfer passages C-1, C-
In 2C, contamination due to normal exhaust air must be absolutely avoided, and it is important to arrange an air sterilizing filter in these transfer passages to keep the system air aseptic.

<Inventions according to claims 2 and 3>
The lower part of the side surface of the container transfer passage C is defined by the skirt 15. This skirt portion may constitute most of the side surface, that is, the sterile air sent from the air filtering filter from above is sufficiently guided to the container 14 which is transferred in an upright state on the conveyor 13. I just want it. By forming this portion with the skirt 15, the aseptic air continuously fed from the air filtering filter 11 is smoothly discharged out of the system from the gap below the air even if the air volume varies to some extent.

The skirt 15 should have a length such that aseptic air from the air filter can be sent toward the container, and preferably has a thickness of 3 to 5 m.
A sheet or plate made of plastic such as polyolefin or polyvinyl chloride having a length of about m is used. In this specification, this is called a plastic plate. It is desirable to mix an antistatic agent in the plastic plate so that dust and the like are not adsorbed by the charging. Also, the skirt is provided on the side surface 15 with, for example, a darma hole 1 so that the skirt can be smoothly replaced.
It is preferable to be configured so as to be detachable using 8.

<Inventions of Claims 4 and 5>
The positive pressure relationship between the first clean room A and the second clean room B, and the transfer passages C-2, C-1, and C is defined. In the present invention, the clean room controlling the filling process in each clean room is maintained at the maximum positive pressure,
It is important that the clean room, which is responsible for the cleaning and sterilizing process, is kept at the minimum pressure. In the middle, the pressure is gradually reduced starting from the clean room in the filling process.

When the first clean room is a cleaning / sterilizing step / finishing rinsing step and the second clean room is a filling step, as described above, the cleaning / sterilizing of the containers performed in the first clean room A is performed using a peracetic acid-based chemical. Things,
It is harmful to the worker, even if slight, to avoid contact with the skin as well as suction. Therefore, in the present invention, the air in the first clean room A is lower than the pressure in the first clean room A on the transfer passage side C-2, so that the air in the first clean room A does not leak from the container carry-in portion 3 and the container discharge portion 4. Set the pressure of C-1 to positive pressure.

Further, if air from the transfer passage C side enters the second clean room B via the carry-in section 7, the cleanliness of the filling step may be impaired. It is more important to maintain the pressure in the second clean room B at a positive pressure than the pressure on the transfer passage side C.

The clean room in charge of the filling process must be kept in the cleanest state in all the processes. The clean room in which the finish rinsing in the preceding process is performed and the clean room in which the closing process in the subsequent process is performed are performed. There must be no inflow of air from either. Therefore, in the sterilization filling system of the present invention, it is important to maximize the positive pressure in the clean room that controls the filling process.

On the contrary, since the clean room in the above-mentioned cleaning and sterilizing step is filled with a chemical, the air in this clean room is discharged from a predetermined exhaust mechanism to the outside of the system. Container loading section 3
Alternatively, leakage from the discharge section 4 must be avoided. Therefore, in the sterilization and filling system of the present invention, it is necessary to minimize the positive pressure in the clean room that controls the cleaning and sterilization process.

Further, in the present invention, even when the apparatus is not operated, for example, at the end of the year,
By maintaining the cleanliness of the disinfection and filling system, it is possible to reduce the time and effort required to take a long time to keep the cleanliness inside the system at a certain level again when the equipment is put into operation. be able to.

Therefore, in the present invention, the air flow of the entire apparatus is reduced by about 1 / without stopping the supply of the aseptic air from the air sterilizing filter and maintaining the positive pressure relationship between the clean room and the transfer passage. By setting it to 2 or less, the sterility of the system is maintained as it is, and
The electricity cost for operating the apparatus is greatly reduced, and when the apparatus enters the operating state, the above-described cleaning and sterilizing step can be smoothly operated immediately.

[0037]

According to the present invention, a container to be transferred to a clean room can be smoothly transferred to the next step without being contaminated during the transfer. In addition, while the apparatus is not operating, the first clean room, the second clean room, and the positive pressure relationship of the transfer passage are maintained, and only the air flow of the entire apparatus is reduced to approximately の or less of the operation time. As a result, it is possible to save a large amount of electricity cost, and at the time of restarting, it is possible to immediately transfer the container in a sterile filling system in an aseptic state by simply increasing the air volume to the original state.

[0038]

The present invention will be described below by way of examples. This example is intended to disclose a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto.

<Embodiment> The first embodiment in the arrangement shown in FIG.
In the sterilization and filling system in which the clean room A and the second clean room B are separated from each other by 2 m and the space between them is connected by the top chain conveyor 13, three surfaces, namely, the side surface and the top surface as shown in FIG. It was closed and formed a transfer passage with two HEPA filters above. A 5 mm-thick polyvinyl chloride sheet was hung over the side of the transfer passage from above the side of the transfer passage. From the HEPA filter, a wind speed of 0.3 m is directed toward a plastic bottle that has been washed and sterilized upright at 15 cm intervals on a top chain conveyor running at a speed of 36 m / sec.
/ Sec aseptic air was blown continuously. For the test, the bottle picked up at the entrance of the second clean room was kept in the state of cleaning and sterilization in the first clean room, was not contaminated during that time, and had zero bacteria attached to the container.

<Comparative Example> A container that had been washed and sterilized was conveyed in the same manner as in the example except that no air filtering filter was provided in the container transfer passage in the example. As a result, bacteria were attached to the bottle picked up at the entrance of the second clean room at a rate of 3/10.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a state in which an air filtering filter is disposed in a container transfer passage to a clean room in a sterilizing and filling system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container transfer passage viewed from the conveyor running direction, which is a cross-section II of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: First clean room B: Second clean room C, C-1, C-2: Container transfer passage D: General cleanliness room E: General machine room (pre-cleaning room) F: First booth in the first clean room G: Second booth in first clean room H: Booth in second clean room 1: General machine room container carry-in part 2: General machine room container discharge part 3: First clean room first booth carry-in part 4: First clean room first booth discharge part 5: First clean room second booth carry-in section 6: First clean room second booth discharge section 7: Second clean room carry-in section 8: Second clean room discharge section 11 Air sanitizing filter 12 Air supply fan 13 Conveyor (transport device) 14 Container 15 Skirt on transfer passage side surface 16 Top surface 17 Container transfer passage device support 18 Skirt attaching / detaching part

Claims (5)

[Claims] In a sterilization and filling system for containers, three sides, that is, both sides and a top surface of a container transfer passage to a clean room are sectioned and closed, and clean air is introduced into the passage from the top surface direction through an air sterilizing filter. A method for adjusting the air conditioning of a container transfer passage to a clean room, wherein the air is continuously blown. 2. The method for adjusting air conditioning of a container transfer passage to a clean room according to claim 1, wherein the lower side of the side surface of the container transfer passage is partitioned by a skirt. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the skirt is formed of a plastic plate that has been subjected to an antistatic treatment, and is detachably hung on a side wall surface. 4. The clean room according to claim 1, wherein the positive pressure in the clean room controlling the filling step is set to a maximum, and the positive pressure in the clean room controlling the cleaning / sterilizing step is set to a minimum. How to adjust the air conditioning of the container transfer passage. 5. The air conditioning system for a container transfer passage to a clean room according to claim 4, wherein, when the apparatus is not operated, the air volume of the entire apparatus is reduced to approximately １ ／ or less of the operation level while maintaining the positive pressure degree. Adjustment method.