WO2015122241A1

WO2015122241A1 - Container sterilization method and device

Info

Publication number: WO2015122241A1
Application number: PCT/JP2015/051304
Authority: WO
Inventors: 岩下　健; 憲一小南; 天章原田
Original assignee: 東洋製罐株式会社
Priority date: 2014-02-12
Filing date: 2015-01-20
Publication date: 2015-08-20
Also published as: CN105939936A; CN105939936B

Abstract

The purpose of the invention is to sufficiently sterilize the inner face and the outer face of a container while being able to reduce the size of equipment, reduce the area to be maintained as a sterile environment, and decrease costs without damaging a blow molding unit (110). A molding and sterilization line for a blow molded container has a molding area (101) in which blow molding is performed, and a transfer area (103) between the molding area (101) and a filling area in which the container is filled with content. The outer face of the container is sterilized inside the transfer area (103).

Description

Container sterilization method and apparatus

The present invention relates to a sterilization method and sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a container in a molding sterilization line in which the container is blow-molded from a preform and the molded container is sterilized.

Conventionally, a filling system is known in which a container is continuously blow-molded from a preform, and the formed container is supplied to a filling unit to fill the contents.
In such a filling system, it is necessary that the container is sufficiently sterilized in the molded sterilization line before the container reaches the filling device.
For example, it is known to sterilize a container by spraying a sterilizing agent onto the container while washing the blow-molded container (refer to Patent Document 1).
In addition, a blow molding unit is known in which the inside of a container is sterilized by mixing a sterilizing agent with blow air blown into a preform (see Patent Document 2, etc.).

JP 2008-74438 A JP 2009-274309 A

However, in the sterilization method of Patent Document 1 described above, the container is separately sterilized with a sterilizing agent, and in order to sterilize reliably, the sterilizing agent needs to adhere to the container for a predetermined time, and the conveyance line is set to be long. In addition, there is a problem that the section is required to be in a sterilization environment, which increases the size and cost of the equipment.
In addition, after the container is detached from the blow mold, the temperature of the container is lowered and sterilization under high temperature environment is not performed. As a result, the sterilization time is prolonged and the sterilization efficiency is lowered. When sterilizing, it was necessary to sterilize by taking measures such as spraying a large amount of sterilizing agent or heating the container again.
Moreover, in the sterilization method of Patent Document 2 described above, since the outer surface of the container cannot be sufficiently sterilized, in order to maintain the sterilized state of the container, it is necessary to put all of the blow molding unit to the filling unit in a sterilization environment. In order to secure a large area for maintaining the sterilization environment and to reliably maintain the sterilization environment, there has been a problem that the equipment is increased in size and cost.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. The container can be sufficiently sterilized, the equipment can be downsized without damaging the blow molding unit, the area to be kept in the sterilization environment is small, and the cost is low. An object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization method that can be destroyed, and a sterilization apparatus therefor.

The sterilization method according to the present invention is a sterilization method for sterilizing a container in a molding sterilization line, and the molding sterilization line connects a molding area for performing the blow molding and a filling area for filling the container with contents. By having a transfer area and sterilizing the outer surface of the container in the transfer area, or the blow molding has at least a pre-blow process and a main blow process, and from the main blow process in the molding area to the transfer area This problem is solved by sterilizing the inner surface of the container at a predetermined timing during the transfer process of transferring the container.

The sterilization apparatus according to the present invention is a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a container in a molding sterilization line, wherein the molding sterilization line is a molding unit that performs blow molding of a container, and a filling that fills the molding unit and the container with contents. A transfer unit arranged with transfer means for connecting to the unit, wherein the transfer unit is provided with external surface sterilization means for sterilizing the outer surface of the container, or the molding unit is at least pre-blowed. And an inner surface sterilization means for sterilizing the inner surface of the container at a predetermined timing between the main blow process in the blow molding unit and the transfer process by the transfer means of the transfer unit. Thus, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

According to the sterilization method described in claim 1 and the sterilization apparatus described in claim 10 of the present invention, the outer surface of the container can be sufficiently sterilized and the equipment can be downsized.
In addition, by sterilizing the outer surface of the container in a state where the high temperature is maintained after the container is detached from the blow-molding mold, the container after the blow-molding can be effectively sterilized and cooled. The line can be shortened.
According to the sterilization method described in claim 2 of the present invention and the sterilization apparatus described in claim 11, the equipment of the molded sterilization line can be reduced in size, and the area to be kept in the sterilization environment is also small.
Moreover, since the container in a high temperature state is sterilized immediately after blow-molding the heated preform, the sterilization time can be shortened.

According to the configuration of claim 3 and claim 12, in the conventional blow molding process, the inner surface of the container is easily sterilized within the molding area simply by adding sterilization means to the piping such as the cooling air to be injected. be able to. Further, when a liquid sterilizing agent or the like is used, the sterilizing agent can be sprayed immediately before the transfer area, so that the sterilizing agent can be held on the inner surface of the container and the container can be transferred while sterilizing.
According to the structure of Claim 4 and Claim 13, shapeability can be improved and it can sterilize, cooling the container which became a high temperature state.
According to the structure of Claim 5 and Claim 14, since the container of the high temperature state immediately after blow molding is sterilized, it can cool, sterilizing a container efficiently.
According to the structure of Claim 6 and Claim 15, since the container of a higher temperature state is sterilized by preform heating and blow molding by a heating die, sterilization efficiency is further improved and sterilization time is shortened. can do.
According to the structure of Claim 7 and Claim 16, it is required after sterilizing the outer surface of the container by sterilizing the outer surface of the container during the transfer in the transfer area to the sterilized container on the inner surface of the container. The sterilization environment can be set short, and the entire sterilization environment line can be set short.

According to the structure of Claim 8 and Claim 17, since the flow of the air from a washing | cleaning area to a transfer area arises, there is no inflow into the washing | cleaning area of the microbe in a transfer area, and the washing | cleaning efficiency in a washing | cleaning area And the process of the cleaning area can be simplified. Then, only the cleaning area, for example, by supplying aseptic air and maintaining the sterilization environment, the entire downstream area from the transfer area can be a sterilization environment.
According to the configurations of claims 9 and 18, since air flows from the molding area to the transfer area, sterilization gasified or misted in the transfer area even when a liquid sterilant or the like is used. It is possible to prevent an agent or the like from flowing into the molding area. Therefore, it is possible to inject the sterilizing agent upstream without damaging the blow molding unit with the sterilizing agent, etc., while ensuring the sterilization effect, it is possible to reduce the size of the equipment by shortening the entire line, and using positive pressure with sterile air However, there are few areas to keep in a sterilized environment, and the cost can be reduced.
In addition, when liquid sterilizing agent or the like is sprayed on the inner surface of the container in the molding area, spraying immediately before the transfer area and keeping the transfer area at a lower pressure than the molding area can adversely affect the blow molding unit. Can be prevented.
According to the configuration of claim 19, the partial internal space on the upstream side of the transfer unit overlaps with the partial internal space on the downstream side of the blow molding unit, and the container discharge turret is in the overlapped internal space. By being arranged, the entire line can be further shortened, and sterilization can be performed in a state where the high temperature after the container is detached from the blow-molding mold is maintained, so that sterilization can be effectively performed.

Explanatory drawing of the sterilizer of 1st Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the blow molding process of the sterilizer of 1st Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the other Example of the blow molding process of the sterilizer of 1st Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the sterilizer of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Sterilizer 101 ... Molding area 102 ... Cleaning area 103 ... Transfer area 110 ... Blow molding unit 111 ... Inner surface injection means 112 ... Aseptic air supply means (blow molding unit) of)
113 ... Blow molding turret 114 ... Preform loading turret 115 ... Container discharge turret 116 ... Oven 120 ... Cleaning unit 121 ... Transfer turret 130 ... Transfer unit 131 ... Outer surface Ejecting means 132 ... Exhaust means (for transfer unit)
133u ... Transfer turret (most upstream)
133m ... Transfer turret (middle)
133d ... Transfer turret (downstream)
140 ... Blow means 141 ... Blow nozzle 142 ... Stretch rod (cooling rod)
143 ... Pre-blow pipe 144 ... Main blow pipe 145 ... Exhaust pipe 146 ... Cooling pipe 147 ... Sterilizer pipe 150 ... Preform 160 ... Mold P ... Preform Introduction path J ・・・ Filling unit

Embodiments of the sterilization method and sterilization apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The sterilization method and sterilization apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention connects a blow molding unit 110 that molds a container such as a PET bottle (polyethylene terephthalate bottle) and a filling unit J as shown in FIG. A transfer unit 130 is provided. And it has the washing | cleaning unit 120 which wash | cleans the sterilizing agent adhering to the container immediately before the filling unit J of the transfer unit 130. FIG.
The blow molding unit 110 includes a blow molding turret 113, a preform carry-in turret 114 adjacent to the blow molding turret 113, and a container discharge turret 115 (the most upstream transfer turret 133u). It also has 133m.
An oven 116 is provided on the upstream side of the preform carry-in turret 114, and the preform introduced from the preform introduction path P is heated by passing through the oven 116 by an appropriate means (not shown). It is configured to be delivered to the preform carry-in turret 114 later.
The oven 116 is provided with an exhaust means 117.

In the present embodiment, four transfer turrets 133 are provided upstream of the transfer unit 130, and the transfer turret 133 u that also serves as the most upstream container discharge turret 115 and the next-stage transfer turret 133 m are included in the blow molding unit 110. It is accommodated in the formed transfer unit 130. In addition, a washing unit is provided immediately before the downstream filling unit. An exhaust means 132 is provided upstream of the transfer unit 130.
In addition, what is necessary is just to design the number of the transfer turrets 133 according to the retention time of a sterilant.
In this embodiment, the upstream of the transfer unit 130 is in the blow molding unit 110, and the transfer unit 130 may be longer or shorter depending on the number of transfer turrets 133.
Further, the transfer unit 130 may not have a portion overlapping the blow molding unit 110.

The cleaning unit 120 provided immediately before the filling unit of the transfer unit 130 has a plurality of transfer turrets 121 as transfer means, and sprays aseptic air onto the container to dry and vaporize the sterilizing agent while cleaning the filling unit. It is comprised so that a container may be transferred toward J. Here, the sterilized air may be room temperature, but may be warm hot air, and the temperature may be set to 40 to 160 ° C., preferably 80 to 120 ° C. The container used for cleaning may be in an upright state or an inverted state. Preferably, a sterile air cleaning nozzle is inserted into the container mouth.
In the present embodiment, four transfer turrets 121 are shown. However, as long as the sterilizing agent is sufficiently washed, it may be designed with an appropriate number and size.
In the cleaning unit 120, cleaning water or the like may be jetted in the upstream portion in order to clean the sterilizing agent more reliably.
In addition, as long as no sterilant remains in the container, the container may be transferred to the filling unit without providing the cleaning unit.

The molding area 101, which is a space in the blow molding unit 110, and the cleaning area 102, which is a space in the cleaning unit 120, have the highest positive pressure due to the sterilized air supplied from the sterilizing air supply means 112, 122, Since the aseptic air flows into the transfer area 103, which is a space in the air, the pressure is higher than the atmosphere, but the pressure is lower than the cleaning unit 120 and the blow molding unit 110 by the exhaust means 132. The filling unit J is at a positive pressure than the molding area 101, the transfer area 103, and the cleaning area 102.
In the blow molding turret in the blow molding unit 110, molding means for performing a pre-blow process, a main blow process, and a cooling blow process, which are processes for performing blow molding, are arranged. In the cooling blow process in the molding area, internal sterilization is performed. A sterilizing agent is jetted onto the inner surface of the container from the inner surface jetting means 111 as the means.
The inner surface injecting means 111 may be configured such that the blowing means 140 can switch and inject air for blowing and a sterilizing agent, or may be provided independently of the blowing means 140.

On the side of the most upstream transfer turret 133u (container discharge turret 115) in the transfer area 103 in the transfer unit 130, external surface injection means 131 for injecting a sterilizing agent toward the external surface of the container to be transferred as external surface sterilization means. Is provided.
In this case, sterilization includes sterilization, and sterilization and sterilization states are created according to the difference in the type of bacteria, the injection amount of the sterilant, and the sterilization temperature, and all of them are in a sterilization environment.
In this embodiment, a known gas, liquid, or the like used for sterilization and sterilization is used as a sterilizing agent. For example, an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, chlorine dioxide, hypochlorous acid, or the like is vaporized. Saturated or unsaturated gas generated by this, ozone water, ethanol or the like is used as a sterilizing component, and these are preferably injected as a gaseous or mist-like sterilizing agent.

A container sterilization method in the sterilization apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
First, a preform for forming a container is introduced into the blow molding unit 110 from the preform introduction path P, heated in the oven 116, and supplied to the blow molding turret 113 through the preform carrying turret 114.
In the blow-molded turret 113, the heated preform enters the mold 160 heated from 60 ° C. to 120 ° C., for example, and after the pre-blow process, the container is molded in the main blow process that blows with high-pressure air. The container formed after the detachment is discharged to the container discharge turret 115.

The cooling rod 142 used in the cooling blow process is switched from the cooling air to the sterilizing agent immediately after the cooling air is blown into the container, immediately before the discharge to the container discharge turret 115 and immediately before the mold is detached. Inject the sterilizing agent.
And since a cooling blow process is performed for a short time, it becomes possible to inject a sterilizing agent in the high temperature state at the time of a shaping | molding, and can hold | maintain a sterilizing agent on the container inner surface during transfer.
Further, the sterilizing agent is prevented from directly adhering to the mold, and since the molding area 101 where the blow-molded turret 113 exists is higher than the transfer area 103 where the container discharge turret 115 exists, the transfer area 103 An air flow in the direction is generated, and the sterilizing agent is prevented from being scattered in the molding area 101, thereby preventing adverse effects on the blow molding unit 110.
In addition, the injection of the sterilizing agent onto the inner surface of the container described above may be performed simultaneously with the cooling of the container in the cooling blow process, or the sterilizing agent may be mixed and injected into the cooling air.

The blow molding process performed in the blow molding turret 113 and the injection of the sterilant onto the inner surface will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
The mold 160, the blow nozzle 141, the cooling rod 142, and the blow means 140 such as piping connected to them are configured to sequentially advance the blow molding process while being rotated by the blow molding turret 113. The general configuration may be the same as the known one except for the configuration related to the injection of the sterilizing agent, and only an outline is shown in FIG.
First, the heated preform 150 is introduced into the blow molding turret 113 and set in the mold 160, and the blow nozzle 141 is set in the preform 150.
Next, the pre-blow process is performed by opening the valve of the pre-blow pipe 143.
At this time, the stretch rod 142 that extends the preform 150 simultaneously with the pre-blow air is inserted. The stretch rod 142 has a supply hole for discharging cooling air in the subsequent cooling blow process, and is also the cooling rod 142.

Next, the valve of the pre-blow pipe 143 is closed, the valve of the main blow pipe 144 is opened, and the main blow process is performed.
When the main blow process is completed, the valve of the cooling pipe 146 connected to the cooling rod 142 is opened, the exhaust pipe 145 is opened, and the blow molded container is cooled while the air in the container is exhausted.
At this time, similarly to the cooling pipe 146, the valve of the sterilant pipe 147 connected to the cooling rod 142 is opened at the timing when the cooling pipe 146 closes, and the sterilant is injected onto the inner surface of the container.
Thereafter, the blow nozzle 141 and the cooling rod 142 are detached, the mold 160 is opened, and the container molded and sprayed with the sterilizing agent is transferred to the container discharge turret 115 in the transfer area 103.

The container introduced into the container discharge turret 115 (the most upstream transfer turret 133u) of the transfer unit 130 is sequentially transferred with the sterilizing agent sprayed from the outer surface injection means 131 toward the outer surface, and the sterilizing agent attached to the outer surface. After passing through 133 m, it is transferred to the transfer turret 133 d at the most downstream side.
During this time, the inner and outer surfaces of the container are sufficiently sterilized by transferring them for a predetermined time in a state in which the sterilizing agent is adhered, effectively utilizing the molding heat of the container.
Further, since the entire transfer unit 130 forms an independent space as the transfer area 103 and is maintained at a positive pressure from the atmosphere and at a lower pressure than the molding area 101 and the cleaning area 102 by the exhaust means 132, the outer surface injection means 131 Even if the injection pressure and the injection amount are adjusted so that the injected sterilizing agent fills the entire transfer area 103 in a gaseous or mist state, the sterilizing agent does not leak out of the transfer area 103, It is possible to arbitrarily perform an optimum injection that can provide a sufficient sterilization effect. Moreover, the inside of the transfer area 103 can also be made into a sterilization environment by filling the transfer area 103 with a sterilant.

All transfer turrets 121 of the cleaning unit 120 are in the cleaning area 102 and all the devices are in a sterilized state.
The container in which the sterilizing agent is held on the inner and outer surfaces by the transfer unit 130 is sprayed with aseptic air while being transferred from upstream to downstream in the cleaning unit 120, and the sterilizing agent adhering to the inner and outer surfaces is cleaned.
In the cleaning area 102 where the cleaning unit 120 is installed, the device itself that comes into contact with the container is sterilized in advance, and the sterilized state is maintained from the beginning by supplying sterile air, and is maintained at a higher pressure than the transfer area 103. Therefore, an air flow in the direction of the transfer area 103 is generated, and the sterilizing agent and bacteria do not flow from the transfer area 103.
The container sufficiently cleaned in the cleaning area 102 is supplied to a filling unit J arranged downstream of the cleaning unit 120. The filling unit J has a positive pressure from the cleaning area 102, but the filling unit is naturally in a sterilized state, and there is no problem even if an air flow occurs in the direction of the cleaning area 102. It does not flow into J.

Another embodiment of the inner surface sterilization method and sterilization apparatus in the blow molding process will be described with reference to FIG.
The blow molding process of the sterilization apparatus 100 and the injection of the sterilant include the mold 160, the blow nozzle 141, and the stretch rod 142 as described above. The blowing means 140 such as piping connected to them is configured to sequentially advance the blow molding process while being rotated by the blow molding turret 113. The specific configuration relates to the injection of the sterilant. Except for the configuration, it may be the same as a known one, and only an outline is shown in FIG.
First, the heated preform 150 is introduced into the blow molding turret 113 and set in the mold 160, and the blow nozzle 141 is set in the preform 150.
Next, the pre-blow process is performed by opening the valve of the pre-blow pipe 143.
At this time, the stretch rod 142 that extends the preform 150 simultaneously with the pre-blow air is inserted.

Next, the valve of the pre-blow pipe 143 is closed, the valve of the main blow pipe 144 is opened, and the main blow process is performed.
When the main blow process is completed, the valve of the main blow pipe 144 is closed, the valve of the sterilant pipe 147 that joins the main blow pipe 144 is opened, and the sterilant is injected in the same flow as the air flow of the main blow. .
Accordingly, since the sterilizing agent is injected at a higher temperature than in the first embodiment, the sterilization can be performed at a high temperature, and the container can be sterilized simultaneously with the cooling of the container.
In this embodiment, the sterilizing agent is injected by switching the main blow air piping. However, the sterilizing agent can be injected from the stretch rod 142 in the same manner as the above-described embodiment shown in FIG. At the end, a sterilant may be sprayed from the stretch rod 142.

Next, a sterilization method and sterilization apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The sterilization apparatus 100b according to this embodiment is such that the inner surface injection means 111b is arranged in the vicinity of the outer surface injection means 131 in the container discharge turret 115 (transfer turret 133u) in the transfer area 103, and the other configurations are described above. This is the same as the first embodiment.
By disposing the inner surface injection means 111b in the transfer area 103, the molding heat of the container can be effectively used for sterilization, the sterilizing agent is not injected in the molding area 101, and the sterilizing agent for the blow molding unit 110 is used. Adverse effects can be prevented.
Moreover, since it is in the transfer area 103 of the transfer unit 130, the sterilizing agent may be scattered, and a simple structure in which the sterilizing agent is simply injected without inserting the inner surface injection unit 111b into the container can be provided.

In both the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, since no new bacteria adhere to the container in the transfer area 103 and the cleaning area 102, the blow molding unit 110 is sterilized on the inner surface or outer surface of the container. The inner surface injection means 111, 111b or the outer surface injection means 131 may be omitted as long as the above can be ensured.
Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, all the transfer and transfer means including the preform carry-in turret 114 and the blow-molded turret 113 are turrets. It is good also as other structures, such as.
Further, when the sterilant pipe 147 is connected to the blow nozzle 141 as in other examples of the first embodiment, the sterilant can be injected onto the inner surface of the container at any timing from the pre-blow process to the detachment of the container. Yes, the sterilizing agent may be injected independently at an appropriate timing or in parallel with other air flows.
In the first and second embodiments described above, the outer surface sterilizing means and the inner surface sterilizing means are the outer surface injecting means 131 and the inner surface injecting means 111 and 111b. Any means may be used as long as the surface of the container can be sterilized, such as those irradiated with infrared rays, visible rays, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, etc.) and particle rays.

The relationship between the container temperature and the sterilization effect on the outer surface of the container was tested.
(1) Test container Using a 500 ml PET bottle preform, the bacterial suspension of Bacillus atrophaeus spore was adjusted to a concentration of 1.3 × 10 2 cfu / ml, and 10 μm / cell bacterial suspension was adhered to the outer surface of the preform. , Stored in a clean room (CLASS 10000) for 24 hours and dried.
(2) Test conditions The test conditions are as shown in Table 1. The blow molding conditions, sterilant concentration, injection amount, temperature, and injection time, aseptic air cleaning flow rate, temperature, and cleaning time are all the same. Temperature and sterilant injection timing are different.
(3) Test method The preform to which the bacteria are attached is blow-molded with the PET bottle A sterilized according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above and a conventional molding machine, and then the sterilization washing apparatus as a separate device. Sampling was performed while each of the sterilized PET bottles B was sealed in a sterilized bag.
The sterilized PET bottle was cut into a 1 cm × 1 cm piece of the bottle mouth and bottle body in a clean bench, placed in a 15 ml screw test tube containing SCD liquid medium, and sealed with a sterilized cap. The sample was stored at 30 ° C. for 7 days, and the medium in which turbidity was observed was positive (×), and the medium in which turbidity was not observed was negative (◯).
Moreover, the bottle temperature measured the PET bottle temperature before a washing | cleaning apparatus.

As a result, as shown in Table 2, it was confirmed that the PET bottle A molded and sterilized in the first embodiment of the present invention was sterilized reliably.
On the other hand, it was confirmed that the bacteria were alive in the PET bottle B sterilized by another apparatus without heating the container. Therefore, by sterilizing at a timing when the container temperature is high, the container can be reliably sterilized without being heated separately.

The relationship between the container temperature and the sterilization effect on the inner surface of the container was tested.
(1) Test container Using a 500 ml PET bottle preform, the bacterial suspension of Bacillus atrophaeus spore was adjusted to a concentration of 1.3 × 10 2 cfu / ml, and 10 μm / cell bacterial suspension was adhered to the inner surface of the preform. , Stored in a clean room (CLASS 10000) for 24 hours and dried.
(2) Test conditions The test conditions are as shown in Table 3. The blow molding conditions, sterilant concentration, injection amount, temperature, and injection time, aseptic air cleaning flow rate, temperature, and cleaning time are all the same. Mold temperature and sterilant injection timing are different.
(3) Test method The preform with bacteria attached thereto is sterilized with the PET bottle A sterilized according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, and blow-molded by a molding machine as before, and transferred to a sterilizing apparatus for another apparatus. After spraying the sterilizing agent with the apparatus, the PET bottle B washed with sterile air was sampled while being sealed with a sterilized cap. The sterilized container was filled with SCD liquid medium in a clean bench and sealed with a sterilized cap. The sample was stored at 30 ° C. for 7 days, and the medium in which turbidity was observed was positive (×), and the medium in which turbidity was not observed was negative (◯). Moreover, the bottle temperature measured the PET bottle temperature before a washing | cleaning apparatus.
The results are shown in Table 4.

As shown in Table 4, it was confirmed that the PET bottle A molded and sterilized in the first embodiment of the present invention was sterilized reliably. On the other hand, it was confirmed that the bacteria were alive in the PET bottle B sterilized by another apparatus without heating the container. Therefore, by sterilizing at a timing when the container temperature is high, the container can be reliably sterilized without being heated separately.

The sterilization method and sterilization apparatus of the present invention are suitable for facilities that include a filling unit downstream of a molding sterilization line for blow-molding a container from a preform and continuously perform from container molding to filling. It can be applied to any equipment that performs.

Claims

A sterilization method for sterilizing a container in a molded sterilization line,
The molding sterilization line has a transfer area for connecting a molding area for blow molding and a filling area for filling a container with contents,
A sterilization method comprising sterilizing an outer surface of a container in the transfer area.
A sterilization method for sterilizing a container in a molded sterilization line,
The molding sterilization line has a transfer area for connecting a molding area for blow molding and a filling area for filling a container with contents,
The blow molding has at least a pre-blow process and a main blow process,
A sterilization method comprising sterilizing an inner surface of a container at a predetermined timing during a transfer process of transferring a container in a transfer area from a main blow process in the molding area.
The blow molding has a cooling blow step after the main blow step,
The sterilization method according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the container is sterilized in the cooling blow step in the molding area.
The blow molding consists of a pre-blow process and a main blow process,
The sterilization method according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the container is sterilized at the end of the main blow process.
The sterilization method according to claim 2, wherein the inner surface of the container is sterilized in the transfer step in the transfer area.
The sterilization method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the blow molding is performed at a temperature of a blow molding die of 60 ° C to 120 ° C.
The sterilization method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sterilization of the outer surface of the container is performed during the transfer of the container in the transfer area after the sterilization of the inner surface of the container.
The transfer area is maintained at a positive pressure, a cleaning area for cleaning the container is provided immediately before the filling area, and the transfer area other than the cleaning area is maintained at a lower pressure than at least the cleaning area. 8. The sterilization method according to any one of 7.
The sterilization method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the molding area and the transfer area are maintained at a positive pressure, and the transfer area is maintained at a lower pressure than at least the molding area.
A sterilizer for sterilizing containers in a molded sterilization line,
The molding sterilization line has a transfer unit in which a molding unit that performs blow molding of a container, and a transfer unit that connects the molding unit and a filling unit that fills a container with contents,
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit is provided with an outer surface sterilization means for sterilizing the outer surface of the container.
A sterilizer for sterilizing containers in a molded sterilization line,
The molding sterilization line has a transfer unit in which a molding unit that performs blow molding of a container, and a transfer unit that connects the molding unit and a filling unit that fills a container with contents,
The molding unit has molding means for performing at least a pre-blow process and a main blow process,
A sterilization apparatus comprising an inner surface sterilization means for sterilizing an inner surface of a container at a predetermined timing between a main blow process in the blow molding unit and a transfer process by a transfer means of a transfer unit.
The molding unit has molding means for performing a cooling process after the main blow process,
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 11, wherein an inner surface sterilization means for sterilizing an inner surface of the container is provided in the cooling step.
The molding unit consists of molding means for performing a pre-blow process and a main blow process,
12. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an inner surface sterilizing means for sterilizing the inner surface of the container at the end of the main blow process.
The sterilizer according to claim 11, wherein an inner surface sterilizing means for sterilizing the inner surface of the container is provided in the transfer unit.
The sterilizer according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the molding unit has a blow mold, and the mold temperature is heated to 60 ° C to 120 ° C during blow molding.
The sterilizer according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the outer surface sterilizing means is provided after the means for sterilizing the inner surface of the container.
A washing unit for washing the container is provided immediately before the filling unit in the transfer unit,
In the cleaning unit, a positive pressure means is provided,
The sterilizer according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the transfer unit other than the cleaning unit is provided with an evacuation unit that maintains a lower pressure than the cleaning unit.
In the molding unit, a positive pressure means is provided,
The sterilizer according to any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the transfer unit is provided with an evacuation unit that maintains a lower pressure than the blow molding unit.
The blow molding unit has at least a blow molding turret, a preform carry-in turret and a container discharge turret adjacent to the blow molding turret,
A partial internal space on the upstream side of the transfer unit overlaps with a partial internal space on the downstream side of the blow molding unit,
The sterilizer according to any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the container discharge turret is disposed in the overlapping internal space.