JPH1111666A - Sterilized pneumatic conveyor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilized pneumatic conveyor device suitable for use in conveying, using simple constitution, a container sterilized by an upstream sterilizing device into a packing device in a downstream clean room, while keeping the container sterilized. SOLUTION: This device uses sterilized air as pressurized air for supply to its air duct 1, and a sealed exhaust chamber 2 into which the air can flow is formed around the shell of a container 6, with the internal pressure Pb of the exhaust chamber 2 held at external pressure Pc or higher. The flow speed of air in the exhaust chamber 2 is set to be not more than the speed at which the container 6 is conveyed by a jet of air coming from the air duct 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air transport conveyor device for transporting a lightweight container such as a PET bottle by a propulsion force applied through an air jet, and is particularly suitable for transporting the container under aseptic conditions. The present invention relates to a sterile air transport conveyor device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, it has been widely known in this type of air conveyance technology that a container is propelled by wind pressure caused by an air jet blown in a conveyance direction while supporting and guiding a neck portion of the container. (Japanese Patent Publication No. 59-2056
No. 3, JP-A-4-341422). However, in these conventional techniques, a form is used in which used air used for air conveyance is released into the atmosphere.
Since the periphery of the body of the container being transported was open to or communicated with the atmosphere, it was not suitable for transporting the container aseptically. For this reason, for example, in order to perform aseptic filling, when the container is sterilized, and then transferred to a clean room in an aseptic state and filled, no air transfer means is employed.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above technical circumstances, and has as its object the purpose of having a simple structure, for example, sterilization by an upstream sterilization apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide a sterile air transport conveyor device suitable for transporting a container to a filling device in a downstream clean room while maintaining a sterilized state.

[0004]

According to the present invention, in order to attain the above object, there is provided an air transport conveyor device having the neck guide, an air duct, and an air supply means, wherein aseptic air is supplied as pressurized air to be supplied to the air duct. In addition to the above, a technical means is adopted in which a closed exhaust chamber is formed around the body of the container, into which air blown from the outlet can flow, and the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber is maintained at or above the external pressure. . As a specific example for maintaining the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber equal to or higher than the external pressure, the flow rate or pressure of at least one of the air on the intake unit side connected to the air duct and the exhaust unit side connected on the downstream side of the exhaust chamber The technical means of maintaining the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber equal to or higher than the external pressure by controlling the exhaust pressure is adopted. further,
If the technical means of setting the flow rate of the air in the exhaust chamber to be equal to or lower than the transport speed of the container transported by the air jet blown out from the outlet of the air duct is adopted, a good transport state can be obtained more reliably. Can be In addition, aseptic air mixed with a germicide can be used as the pressurized air supplied to the air duct.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, aseptic conveyor air is used as a sterile conveyor device. For example, various sterilized air such as sterilized air that has been sterilized through a HEPA filter or an ULPA filter, and sterilized air that is further mixed with the sterilized air by spraying hydrogen peroxide or the like is used. The embodiment of the neck guide and the air duct is not particularly limited, and widely known technical means can be applied. Furthermore, the specific form, capacity, and the like of the air supply unit and the exhaust unit can be selected according to the specific air conveyance line. The exhaust chamber is formed in a closed state so as to surround the body of the container supported by the neck guide, and the air for conveyance blown toward the upper portion of the container supported by the neck guide flows in and exhausts the air. It is configured to function as a passage. The internal pressure of the exhaust chamber is kept higher than the external pressure to ensure sterility. As a specific example therefor, for example, a suction-type exhaust unit is connected to the downstream side of the exhaust chamber, and the balance with the air supply unit connected to the air duct, that is, to the discharge state and the exhaust unit from the air supply unit The internal pressure of the exhaust chamber can be controlled using factors such as the suction state of the gas and the resistance value of the flow path such as the throttle. Note that the exhaust means may be omitted depending on the discharge state of the air supply means and the flow path resistance value.

Regarding the internal pressure control of the exhaust chamber,
Various forms are conceivable. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram relating to pressure control.
Assuming that the internal pressure is Pb and the atmospheric pressure as the external pressure of the exhaust chamber 2 is Pc, the relationship Pa>Pb> Pc is controlled. For example, in the pressure control relating to the internal pressure Pa of the air duct 1, the internal pressure of the air duct 1 is detected by the pressure sensor Sa, and the detection result is fed back to the air supply means 4 such as a turbo-type blower via the control device 3 to discharge the air. Can be controlled. Specifically, it can be performed through the opening control of the air supply means 4 itself or a valve mechanism disposed in the air supply path, or the rotation control of the blower. Similarly, pressure control relating to the internal pressure Pb of the exhaust chamber 2 is as follows:
The internal pressure of the exhaust chamber 2 is detected by the pressure sensor Sb,
The detection result can be fed back to the exhaust means 5 such as a turbo blower through the control device 3 to control the suction state. Specifically, the exhaust means 5
The control can be performed by controlling the opening degree of the valve mechanism provided in the exhaust passage itself or the rotation of the blower. The air supply unit 4 and the exhaust unit 5 or the valve mechanism may be controlled in accordance with the transfer capacity of the air transfer line and the stagnation state of the container 6.

As described above, the internal pressure Pa of the air duct 1
When the internal pressure Pb of the exhaust chamber 2 is determined, the flow velocity of the air jet from the outlet formed toward the upper part of the container 6 is determined, and the transport speed of the container 6 is determined. That is, depending on the total area of the air outlets in the device and the flow path resistance between the air duct 1 and the exhaust chamber 2, their internal pressures Pa
The flow rate of the air jet from the outlet generated from the pressure difference between the pressure and the internal pressure Pb is determined, and the transfer speed of the container 6 is determined according to the weight and number of the containers and the friction coefficient at the time of transfer. In this case, the relationship of: total area of the air outlet × air blowing speed of the air jet = cross-sectional area of the exhaust chamber 2 × flow velocity of the air in the exhaust chamber 2 is established. From this relationship, for example, when the flow rate of the air jet from the outlet is about 15 m / sec and the actual transport speed of the container 6 is about 1 to 2 m / sec, the flow rate of the air in the exhaust chamber 2 is When the speed is set so as to be 1 m / sec which does not exceed the conveying speed, it is understood that the cross-sectional area of the exhaust chamber 2 should be set to 15 times the total area of the outlet. As described above, when the actual transport speed of the container 6 with respect to the flow velocity of the air jet from the outlet is experimentally determined and the above relational expression is applied, the sectional area of the exhaust chamber 2 is determined as a multiple of the total area of the outlet. be able to. Even if the flow rate of the air formed in the exhaust chamber 2 slightly exceeds the transfer speed of the container 6, a good transfer state can be obtained. In particular, if the flow velocity of the air is set to be equal to or lower than the transfer speed of the container 6, the wind pressure effect on the body of the container 6 during transfer by the exhaust flow is suppressed to a predetermined value or less, so that a good transfer state is more reliably achieved. Is obtained. The cross-sectional shape of the exhaust chamber 2 depends on the gap between the container 6 and the inner surface thereof, and even if the container 6 is dropped, the other container
Is determined in consideration of, for example, forming a sufficient gap below so as not to interfere with the operation.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the layout of one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the aseptic air transport conveyor device 7 according to the present invention is used as a transport means between an upstream processing device 8 such as a sterilizer and a downstream processing device 9 such as a filling device in a clean room. Is done.
In the present embodiment, the pressurized air for conveyance is supplied from the air supply means 4 composed of a turbo-type blower or the like via the valve mechanism 10 and the air supply pipes 11 and 12 to two points between the upstream side and the middle of the air conveyance line. It is constituted so that it may be supplied from. As the pressurized air for the transfer, the above-mentioned HEPA filter or UL
Aseptic air, such as sterilized air that has been sterilized through a PA filter or sterilized air that is further mixed by spraying hydrogen peroxide or the like on the sterilized air, is used. Further, the exhaust of the air used for transportation is connected to the exhaust means 5 composed of a turbo type blower or the like via exhaust pipes 13 and 14 and a valve mechanism 15, and is configured to be exhausted by suction. ing. The opening degrees of the valve mechanisms 10 and 15 are controlled via the control device 3 as described above, and the internal pressure Pa of the air duct 1 and the internal pressure Pb of the exhaust chamber 2 are controlled. In the figure, 16 is a pitch cutting means, 17 is a decapper, and 18 is a capper.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view thereof. As shown, the exhaust chamber 2
Is supported on a supporting leg 19, on which an air duct 1 is formed. As described above, the internal pressure Pa of the air duct 1> the internal pressure Pb of the exhaust chamber 2 via the control device 3.
> The external pressure Pc is controlled so as to have a pressure relation. A neck guide 20 that supports and guides the neck of the container 6 is provided on a partition wall between the air duct 1 and the exhaust chamber 2. An air transfer chamber 21 surrounding the upper portion of the container 6 supported by the neck guide 20 is formed above the neck guide 20, and an air outlet 22 is formed in the wall thereof.
Are formed in a state inclined in the transport direction. Aseptic pressurized air is supplied to the air duct 1 from the air supply means 4 and blows out from the outlet 22 toward the upper part of the container 6 to apply a propulsive force to the container 6. The aseptic pressurized air blown into the air transfer chamber 21 from the outlet 22 flows into the exhaust chamber 2 through a gap between the neck portions of the adjacent containers 6 and the like. The exhaust gas flows down through the exhaust pipes 13 and 14, the valve mechanism 15 and the exhaust means 5. At that time, as described above, the exhaust chamber 2
If the flow rate of the air flow inside the container 6 is set to be equal to or lower than the transport speed of the container 6, the wind pressure effect of the air flow on the container 6 is suppressed to a predetermined value or less, so that a good transport operation can be obtained more reliably. In the figure, reference numerals 23 and 24 denote guide support members, which are configured so that the body of the container 6 is guided by rod-shaped guide members 25 and 26 supported at the distal ends of the guide support members 23 and 24. Have been.

The supply of pressurized air to the air duct 1 is as follows.
In this embodiment, as described above, the air supply pipes 11 and 1 shown in FIG.
2 to supply air to the upstream side and the intermediate portion of the air transport line, and to supply the air through a connection portion 27 disposed above the air duct 1 as shown in FIG. Have been. The exhaust of the used air from the exhaust chamber 2 is performed by exhaust pipes 13 and 14 as shown in FIG.
The air is exhausted from the intermediate portion and the downstream side of the air transport line via the air supply line, and through connection portions 28 and 29 arranged on both sides of the exhaust chamber 2 as shown in FIGS. It is configured to be exhausted. The connecting portions 28 and 29 have three connecting pipes 30 to 35 having different installation heights, respectively.
It is devised so that uniform exhaust is performed in the height direction.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a method is employed in which the pressurized air is supplied to and exhausted from the air transfer line at an intermediate portion. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the connection part 27 of the air supply pipe 12 and the connection parts 28 and 29 of the exhaust pipe 13 provided in the middle part thereof, and FIG. 6 is an exhaust chamber of the connection parts 28 and 29. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection relationship with respect to No. 2; As shown in FIG. 5, the connecting portions 28 and 29 of the exhaust pipe 13 of this embodiment are disposed immediately after the connecting portion 27 of the air supply pipe 12, and the guide member in the exhaust chamber 2 as shown in FIG. Container 6 between 25 and 26
Portions other than the passage are partitioned by guide plates 36 and 37. Therefore, most of the air in the exhaust chamber 2 upstream of the connecting portions 28 and 29 is guided to the guide plates 36 and 37 and is exhausted through the connecting portions 28 and 29.

In this embodiment having the above-described structure, aseptic pressurized air is supplied from the air supply means 4 to the air supply pipes 11 and 1.
When the air is supplied to the air duct 1 through the air outlet 2, the air is jetted from the air outlet 22 to form a jet of air, thereby applying a propulsive force to the upper portion of the container 6. Thus, the container 6 is transported along the neck guide 20 while being guided by the guide members 25 and 26.
Thereafter, the pressurized air flows into the exhaust chamber 2 through a gap between the containers 6 and the like, and is exhausted. In that case,
The pressurized air supplied into the air duct 1 from the upstream side of the air transfer line via the air supply pipe 11 and flowing into the exhaust chamber 2 is guided to the guide plates 36 and 37 and connected to the connection portions 28 and 37.
The gas is exhausted from the exhaust pipe 13 through 29. The pressurized air supplied into the air duct 1 from the middle of the air transfer line through the air supply pipe 12 and flowing into the exhaust chamber 2 is exhausted through the exhaust pipe 14. Therefore, the outer peripheral surface of the body of the container 6 is surrounded by aseptic air during the transportation, and transported while maintaining a sterile state sterilized by a sterilization device or the like constituting the upstream processing device 8. That is, by using the aseptic transport air, a local aseptic transport space can be formed by utilizing the exhaust space required as the air transport means, and space-efficient aseptic transport can be performed.

As described above, since the internal pressure Pb of the exhaust chamber 2 is maintained higher than the external pressure Pc, the inflow of outside air into the exhaust chamber 2 is prevented, and the aseptic state is more reliably maintained. In addition, the flow rate of the exhaust air in the exhaust chamber 2 is determined through the determination of the pressure difference between the internal pressure Pb of the air duct 1 and the internal pressure Pb of the exhaust chamber 2, the total area of the outlet 22, and the cross-sectional area of the exhaust chamber 2. If the speed is set to be equal to or lower than the transfer speed of 6, the wind pressure effect on the container 6 by the exhaust flow is suppressed to a predetermined value or less, and a good transfer state can be obtained more reliably.

[0014]

According to the pneumatic conveyor system of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) A sealed exhaust chamber is formed around the body of the container, and only air is exhausted through the exhaust chamber using aseptic air as pressurized air for transport, thereby creating an exhaust space required as air transport means. Since the aseptic transfer space is formed alive, aseptic transfer means suitable for aseptic transfer between the sterilizing apparatus and the filling device in the clean room can be simply and efficiently provided. (2) If the flow rate of the air in the exhaust chamber is set to be equal to or lower than the transport speed of the container, the wind pressure effect on the container by the exhaust flow in the exhaust chamber is suppressed, so that a good transport operation can be obtained more reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram relating to pressure control of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a layout of an example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged transverse sectional view of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 air duct 2 exhaust chamber 3 control device 4
... Air supply means, 5 ... Exhaust means, 6 ... Container, 7 ... Sterile air conveying conveyor device, 8 ... Upstream processing apparatus, 9 ... Downstream processing apparatus, 10 ... Valve mechanism, 11, 12 ... Air supply pipe, 13,
14 ... exhaust pipe, 15 ... valve mechanism, 16 ... pitch cutting means,
17: decapper, 18: capper, 19: support leg, 20
... Neck guide, 21 ... Air transfer chamber, 22 ... Outlet, 2
3, 24 ... guide support member, 25, 26 ... guide member,
27-29 connection part, 30-35 connection pipe, 36, 37
... Guide plate, Sa, Sb ... Pressure sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Kazuo Miyazaki 1-1-1, Ichigaya Kagacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Inside Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (72) Masatoshi Takagi 1-1-1, Ichigaga-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Inside Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] An air duct having a neck guide for supporting and guiding a neck portion of a container, an air outlet for blowing an air jet for propulsion toward an upper portion of the container supported by the neck guide, and In an air conveyance conveyor device having an air supply means for supplying pressurized air, while using aseptic air as pressurized air to be supplied to the air duct,
A sterile air transport conveyor, wherein a closed exhaust chamber into which air blown from the air outlet can flow around the body of the container is formed, and an internal pressure of the exhaust chamber is maintained at an external pressure or higher. apparatus. 2. An internal pressure of the exhaust chamber is controlled by controlling a flow rate or a pressure of at least one of an intake unit connected to the air duct and an exhaust unit connected downstream of the exhaust chamber. The aseptic air transport conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure is maintained at a pressure or higher. 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein a flow velocity of the air in the exhaust chamber is set to be equal to or lower than a transfer speed of the container conveyed by an air jet blown from an outlet of the air duct. Aseptic air transfer conveyor device. 4. The aseptic air conveying conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein aseptic air mixed with a germicide is used as the pressurized air supplied to the air duct.