WO2023032754A1

WO2023032754A1 - Method for washing sealed container outer surface washing device, and aseptic filler

Info

Publication number: WO2023032754A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/031707
Authority: WO
Inventors: 睦早川; 高明廣岡
Original assignee: 大日本印刷株式会社
Priority date: 2021-09-03
Filing date: 2022-08-23
Publication date: 2023-03-09
Also published as: JP7563341B2; JP2023037483A

Abstract

Provided is a method in which a washing solution or sterilizing solution used to wash and sterilize the insides of chambers that will constitute an aseptic filler before the aseptic filler is manufactured is not discharged without modification, but the used washing solution or sterilizing solution is recycled. This method is a method for washing a sealed container outer surface washing device before the product manufacture of an aseptic filler comprising a sterilizing device that sterilizes a container, a filling device that fills the sterilized container with sterilized contents in an aseptic atmosphere, and a sealing device that uses a sterilized lid material to seal the container filled with the contents in an aseptic atmosphere. Said washing method comprises a step of recovering a washing/sterilizing fluid used when washing or sterilizing the insides of the chambers shielding the parts of the aseptic filler, and a step of using the recovered washing/sterilizing fluid to wash a sealed container outer surface washing device that washes the outer surface of the sealed container.

Description

Cleaning method of sealed container outer surface cleaning device and aseptic filling machine

The present disclosure is an aseptic filling machine that fills containers such as PET bottles with beverages, and is a cleaning or sterilizing liquid used for cleaning or sterilizing each chamber that constitutes the aseptic filling machine before manufacturing the product of the aseptic filling machine. A method for cleaning a sealed container exterior surface cleaning device, wherein a cleaning sterilizing fluid is recovered and the collected sterilizing cleaning fluid is reused to clean a sealed container exterior surface cleaning device for cleaning the exterior surface of a sealed container, and aseptic practice of the method. Regarding the filling machine.

Conventionally, in an aseptic filling machine for beverages, when switching the type of beverage to be filled into a container such as a bottle, for example, from tea beverages to milk coffee, the inside of the beverage supply system piping of this aseptic filling machine is First, CIP (Cleaning in Place) is performed, and then SIP (Sterilizing in Place) is performed (see Patent Document 1).

In CIP, after a cleaning liquid containing an alkaline chemical such as caustic soda is passed through the flow path from the inside of the beverage filling route to the filling nozzle of the filling machine, a cleaning liquid containing an acidic chemical added to the water is poured. This is done by flushing. As a result, the residue of the previous beverage adhering to the inside of the beverage filling channel is removed (see

Patent Documents

1, 2, and 3).

SIP is performed, for example, by flowing steam, hot water, or the like into the flow path cleaned by the CIP. As a result, the inside of the beverage filling channel is sterilized and becomes aseptic (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, the aseptic filling machine is equipped with a filling machine that automatically fills the container with the beverage. there is Since the inside of this aseptic chamber is covered with droplets of the beverage filled in the previous filling operation, when switching the type of beverage to be filled, the inner wall of the aseptic chamber and the filling in the aseptic chamber will not be removed during the previous filling operation. In order to remove from the inside of the aseptic chamber, the inside of the aseptic chamber, the interior of the aseptic chamber is washed to remove the droplets of the beverage adhering to the outer surface of equipment such as machines. Cleaning of the inside of the chamber is performed, for example, by spraying a cleaning liquid containing a cleaning agent into the aseptic chamber in the form of a shower (see Patent Document 4).

Furthermore, since there is a risk that microorganisms may enter the sterile chamber during various operations when switching the type of beverage, the chamber is also sterilized. Sterilization in the chamber is performed by, for example, supplying a sterilizing liquid containing a sterilizing agent such as peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide in the form of a mist or a shower into the aseptic chamber, and then blowing hot air into the aseptic chamber to remove the residual sterilizing liquid. (see Patent Document 4).

When sterilizing the chamber, it is proposed to collect the used sterilizing solution and reuse the collected sterilizing solution for sterilizing the chamber, sealing the rotating body, and sterilizing the discharge conveyor (Patent document 5).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-22600 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-331801 JP-A-2000-153245 Japanese Patent No. 6056930 JP 2018-135134 A

Aseptic filling machines form containers from preforms, sterilize the formed containers, fill the sterilized containers with sterilized contents in an aseptic atmosphere, and sterilize the filled containers with sterilized lids. Seal with material. Usually, in order to ensure the sterility of the aseptic filling machine, the inside of the chamber downstream of the filling section where the contents are filled is cleaned before the product is manufactured by the aseptic filling machine, and the container is sterilized downstream of the sterilization section. is sterilized.

Normally, the cleaning liquid used for cleaning the chamber and the sterilizing liquid used for sterilizing the chamber are discharged as they are. The discharged cleaning or disinfecting liquid is treated and discarded. For example, the wash liquor is neutralized by pH adjustment and treated with activated sludge. A sterilizing solution containing peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing agent kills microorganisms in the activated sludge and lowers the biological treatment capacity of the activated sludge when discharged as it is. Therefore, sterilizing solutions containing peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide or other sterilizing agents are decomposed by methods such as neutralization with alkali, addition of reducing agents, addition of catalase, passage through activated carbon, and contact with transition metal catalysts. activated sludge treatment.

　The disposal of the cleaning or sterilizing liquid used for cleaning or sterilizing the inside of the chamber requires a large amount of equipment and running costs for disposal pretreatment. Therefore, cleaning and disinfecting solutions should be used as effectively as possible. A method of reusing the cleaning liquid or sterilizing liquid used when cleaning or sterilizing the chamber before manufacturing the product of the aseptic filling machine, instead of discharging the cleaning liquid or sterilizing liquid as it is, and the cleaning liquid or sterilizing liquid There is a demand for an aseptic filling machine that reuses

In an aseptic filling machine that fills a container such as a PET bottle with a beverage, the present disclosure collects the cleaning liquid or sterilizing liquid used for cleaning or sterilizing the chamber before manufacturing the product of the aseptic filling machine, and the sealed container. To provide a method for cleaning an apparatus for cleaning the outer surface of a container sealed by an aseptic filling machine, which reuses a recovered cleaning liquid or a sterilizing liquid for cleaning the apparatus for cleaning the outer surface, and an aseptic filling machine for carrying out the method. With the goal.

A cleaning method for an apparatus for cleaning the outer surface of a sealed container according to the present disclosure includes a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing a container, a filling apparatus for filling the sterilized container with sterilized contents in an aseptic atmosphere, and the container filled with the contents. In an aseptic filling machine equipped with a sealing device that seals in an aseptic atmosphere with a sterilized lid material, the cleaning and sterilizing fluid that is the cleaning or sterilizing liquid used when cleaning or sterilizing the chamber that shields the aseptic filling machine is recovered and rinsing a sealed container exterior surface cleaning device for cleaning the exterior surface of the sealed container with the recovered cleaning sterilizing fluid.

Further, in the method for cleaning an apparatus for cleaning the outer surface of a sealed container according to the present disclosure, it is preferable to include the step of spraying the cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovered from a nozzle for cleaning the outer surface of a container provided in the apparatus for cleaning the outer surface of a sealed container. is.

Further, in the cleaning method for the sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus according to the present disclosure, it is preferable that the cleaning and sterilizing fluid is a cleaning liquid.

Further, in the cleaning method for the sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus according to the present disclosure, it is preferable that the cleaning and sterilizing fluid is a sterilizing liquid.

Further, in the cleaning method for the sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus according to the present disclosure, it is preferable that the cleaning and sterilizing fluid is water.

Further, in the cleaning method for the sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus according to the present disclosure, it is preferable that the sterilizing liquid contains peracetic acid.

The aseptic filling machine according to the present disclosure includes a sterilization device that sterilizes a container, a filling device that fills the sterilized container with sterilized contents in an aseptic atmosphere, and a lid that sterilizes the container filled with the contents. A sealing device that seals in a sterile atmosphere with a material, a sealed container outer surface cleaning device that cleans the outer surface of the sealed container, the sterilizing device, a chamber that shields the filling device and the sealing device, and cleaning or sterilizing the inside of the chamber. a cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovery device for recovering a cleaning and sterilizing fluid that is a cleaning liquid or a sterilizing liquid sprayed into the chamber for cleaning, and a recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply device for supplying the collected cleaning and sterilizing fluid to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device. Prepare.

According to the present disclosure, a seal for recovering a cleaning or sterilizing fluid that is a cleaning or sterilizing fluid used to clean or sterilize the interior of a chamber in an aseptic filling machine, and cleaning the outer surface of the sealed container with the recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid. By supplying it to the container outer surface cleaning device and cleaning the sealed container outer surface cleaning device with the supplied cleaning and sterilizing fluid, the cleaning liquid or sterilizing liquid used for cleaning or sterilizing the inside of the chamber is not wastefully discharged and sealed. Water consumption can be reduced by reusing it for cleaning the outer surface of the container.

1 is a plan view showing an outline of an aseptic filling machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 shows preforms fed to the heating section and molding section processes of an aseptic filling machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Among the processes of the heating section and molding section of the aseptic filling machine, the preform heating process is shown. Among the processes of the heating section and molding section of the aseptic filling machine, the blow molding process is shown. Among the processes of the heating section and the forming section of the aseptic filling machine, the process of taking out the container is shown. 1 shows a sterilizing agent gas spraying process performed by shielding a container with a tunnel among processes of a sterilization section, a rinsing section, and a filling section of an aseptic filling machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 shows a sterilant gas spraying process performed by inserting a sterilant gas spraying nozzle into a container among the processes of the sterilizing section, the rinsing section, and the filling section of the aseptic filling machine according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 shows a sterile water rinse step with the container upright; Fig. 3 shows the sterile water rinse step with the container upside down. 4 shows the filling process. 4 shows the sealing process. Fig. 3 shows a cleaning and disinfecting fluid collection device for use in cleaning or disinfecting a chamber in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 1 shows a plan view of a sealed container outer surface cleaning device for cleaning the outer surface of a sealed container, which is provided in an aseptic filling machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. FIG. 2 shows a side view of a sealed container outer surface cleaning device provided in an aseptic filling machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

A mode for carrying out the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows an aseptic filling machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A preform heating device 6 for heating the supplied preform 1, a molding device 10 for molding the heated preform 1 into a container 2, an inspection device 15 for the molded container 2, and a sterilization device 17 for sterilizing the container 2. , a rinsing device 19 for rinsing the sterilized container 2 with aseptic water, a filling device 21 for filling the sterilized contents into the rinsed container 2 in an aseptic atmosphere, and a sterilized lid for the container 2 filled with the contents. It is an aseptic filling machine consisting of a sealing device 24 for sealing in a sterile atmosphere with the material 3 and a discharging device 28 for discharging the sealed container 2 . Furthermore, a cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply device 33 for supplying a cleaning and sterilizing fluid that is a cleaning liquid or a sterilizing liquid for cleaning or sterilizing the inside of the chamber shielding each device, and a cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply pipe 36 for supplying the cleaning and sterilizing fluid into the chamber. a recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply pipe 37 for recovering the cleaning and sterilizing fluid supplied into the chamber and supplying the recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid; An outline of an aseptic filling machine having a fluid supply device 35 will be described with reference to FIG. 1, and details of each device will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2H, 3, 4 and 5. FIG. According to this embodiment, the cleaning and sterilizing fluid supplied for cleaning or sterilizing the inside of the chamber is recovered before product manufacture of the aseptic filling machine, and the recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid is supplied to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device. Energy consumption can be reduced by reusing it for cleaning the outer surface of the sealed container. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce facility costs and running costs for disposal of sterile water containing cleaning liquid and sterilizing liquid.

(Overview of Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the aseptic filling machine according to the present embodiment includes a preform supply device 4 that supplies preforms 1, a heating device 6 that heats the preforms 1 to a temperature for molding them into containers 2, and a heated A molding device 10 for molding the preform 1 into a container 2, an inspection wheel 14 for inspecting the molded container 2, a sterilization device 17 for sterilizing the molded container 2, a rinse device 19 for rinsing the sterilized container 2, and a rinser. A filling device 21 for filling sterilized contents into the container 2 filled with the contents in an aseptic atmosphere, a lid material sterilization device 31 for sterilizing the lid material 3 as a sealing member, and a lid material sterilized for the container 2 filled with the contents. 3 includes a sealing device 24 for sealing in a sterile atmosphere, a discharge device 28 for placing the sealed containers 2 on a discharge conveyor 30 and an outlet for discharging the containers 2 by the discharge conveyor 30 into a non-sterile atmosphere. Here, the inspection wheel 14 may not be provided.

The sealed container 2 discharged by the discharge conveyor 30 is washed by spraying water by the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 in a non-sterile atmosphere.

Heating device 6 is heating device chamber 7, forming device 10 and inspection wheel 14 is forming device chamber 11, sterilizing device 17 is sterilizing device chamber 18, rinsing device 19 is rinsing device chamber 20, filling device 21 is filling device chamber 23, sealed. The device 24 is enclosed by a sealer chamber 25 and the ejector 28 by an ejector chamber 29, respectively. An atmosphere shielding chamber 16 is provided between the forming apparatus chamber 11 and the sterilizing apparatus chamber 18 to prevent sterilant gas or mist or a mixture thereof generated in the sterilizing apparatus 17 from entering the forming apparatus 10 . The sterilant gas or mist or mixtures thereof generated in the sterilizer chamber 18 is exhausted from the atmosphere isolation chamber 16 . Thus, no sterilant gas or mist or mixtures thereof can flow into the molder chamber 11 . Here, the heating device 6 and the molding device 10 may be shielded by a single chamber. Also, the lid material sterilizer 31 and the sealing device 24 may be shielded by a single chamber. Additionally, the sealing device 24 and the ejector 28 may also be enclosed by a single chamber.

Before the aseptic filling machine manufactures products, each chamber is cleaned and then sterilized. Cleaning or sterilization is accomplished by supplying a cleaning or sterilizing fluid into each chamber. As the cleaning and sterilizing fluid, a cleaning liquid is used for cleaning and a sterilizing liquid is used for sterilization, which are sprayed into each chamber. Sterile water as a cleaning and disinfecting fluid is supplied in each chamber to wash away the sprayed cleaning or disinfecting liquid. As shown in FIG. 1, each chamber is cleaned or sterilized by supplying cleaning and sterilizing fluids such as a cleaning liquid, a sterilizing liquid, and sterile water from a cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply device 33 into each chamber.

The cleaning and sterilizing fluid is supplied from the cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply device 33 to the sterilizer chamber 18 , the rinse device chamber 20 , the filling device chamber 23 , the sealing device chamber 25 and the ejector chamber 29 . The cleaning and sterilizing fluid supplied to each chamber is preferably heated by a heating device (not shown) provided in the cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply pipe 36 in order to enhance the cleaning and sterilizing effects.

The sterilizer chamber 18 and the rinser chamber 20 do not need to be cleaned because there is no concern about contamination due to their contents. In addition, it is not necessary to use sterilized water to wash away the cleaning liquid after cleaning.

The sterilizer chamber 18, the rinser chamber 20, the filling chamber 23, the sealing chamber 25, and the discharging chamber 29, which must maintain an aseptic atmosphere during aseptic filling machine product manufacturing, are sterilized before the aseptic filling machine manufactures products. be. The sterilizer chamber 18 does not have to be sterilized prior to product production in the aseptic filling machine since it is sprayed with a sterilant gas or mist or mixtures thereof during product production in the aseptic filling machine.

After the cleaning and sterilizing fluid is supplied to each chamber and the inside of the chamber is cleaned or sterilized, a cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovery device 34 is provided for recovering the used cleaning and sterilizing fluid, and the recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid is recovered and cleaned. The sterilizing fluid supply device 35 supplies the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 . The amount of water used can be reduced by reusing the cleaning liquid or sterilizing liquid used for cleaning or sterilizing the inside of the chamber for cleaning the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 without wasting it.

The sterilizer chamber 18, the rinser chamber 20, the filling device chamber 23, the sealing device chamber 25, and the discharging device chamber 29, which have been sterilized in the chambers, are supplied with sterile air sterilized by a sterilization filter, and the inside of each chamber is The sterility of the aseptic filling machine is maintained by making the pressure of the aseptic filling machine positive. The pressure to maintain the positive pressure is the highest in the filling device chamber 23, and is set lower toward the rinsing device chamber 20, the sterilizing device chamber 18, and the upstream. In addition, the sealing device chamber 25 and the discharging device chamber 29 are set lower toward the downstream. By evacuating the atmosphere-isolated chamber 16, the pressure in the atmosphere-isolated chamber 16 is kept substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure. For example, if the pressure in the filling device chamber 23 is 20 Pa or more and 40 Pa or less, the pressure in the other chambers is lower than the pressure in the filling device chamber 23 .

(Details of embodiment)
The preforms 1 shown in FIG. 2A are continuously transported from the preform supply device 4 shown in FIG. 1 to the heating device 6 at a desired speed by the preform supply conveyor 5 .

The preform 1 in this embodiment is a test-tube-shaped tubular body with a bottom, and is provided with a mouth portion 1a similar to the container 2 shown in FIG. 2D at the beginning of molding. A male thread is formed in the mouth portion 1a at the same time when the preform 1 is molded. Further, the preform 1 is formed with a support ring 1b for transportation under the opening 1a. The preform 1 or container 2 is gripped by the gripper 32 via this support ring 1b and travels through the aseptic filling machine. The preform 1 is molded by injection molding, compression molding, or the like. The material of the preform 1 is thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene furanoate, polypropylene, and polyethylene. I do not care. Further, in order to impart barrier properties, a thermoplastic resin such as a polyamide containing an aromatic amine such as an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or m-xylylenediamine as a monomer may be included as a layer or as a mixture.

The preform 1 supplied to the heating device 6 is conveyed by a wheel provided with a large number of grippers 32 at a constant pitch. Here, as shown in FIG. 2B, the preform 1 is released from the gripper 32, and the spindle 9 is inserted into the opening 1a of the preform 1 and conveyed.

The preform 1 is heated to a temperature suitable for subsequent blow molding by an infrared heater 8 or other heating means, as shown in FIG. 2B. This temperature is preferably 90° C. or higher and 130° C. or lower.

The temperature of the mouth portion 1a of the preform 1 is kept below 70°C in order to prevent deformation and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a spindle 9 is inserted into the mouth 1a of the preform 1, heated by an infrared heater 8, and transported by an endless chain while rotating. The spindles 9 are provided at regular intervals on the endless chain. The endless chain is rotated by pulleys. By fitting the preform 1 upside down on the spindle 9, it is possible to convey the preform 1 while rotating it in the upside down state.

The heated preform 1 is released from the spindle 9, gripped by the gripper 32, and conveyed to the forming wheel 12 of the forming apparatus 10. A mold 13 provided on a molding wheel 12 blow-molds the preform 1 into a container 2, as shown in FIG. 2C. A plurality of molds 13 and blow nozzles are arranged around the forming wheel 12, and rotate around the forming wheel 12 at a constant speed as the forming wheel 12 rotates. When the heated preform 1 arrives, the mold 13 sandwiches the preform 1 . Subsequently, the blow nozzle is joined to the preform 1 , and a stretching rod (not shown) is guided to a hole provided in the blow nozzle and inserted into the preform 1 . The preform 1 is longitudinally stretched by the inserted stretching rod stretching the bottom portion of the preform 1, and at the same time, a gas such as high-pressure air is blown into the preform 1 from a blow nozzle to horizontally stretch it. The preform 1 is longitudinally stretched and transversely stretched in the mold 13 to form the container 2 . As shown in FIG. 2D, the molded container 2 is removed from the mold 13, gripped by the support ring 1b by the gripper 32 provided on the inspection wheel 14, and transferred to the inspection wheel 14. As shown in FIG.

The molded container 2 was inspected by the inspection device 15 provided around the inspection wheel 14 for the temperature of the container, the body of the container, the support ring 1b, the top surface of the mouth of the container, the bottom of the container, etc., and judged to be abnormal. In that case, it is discharged to the outside of the aseptic filling machine by a discharge device (not shown). The inspection of the container is performed in the molding apparatus chamber 11, but it may be shielded by a separate chamber as an inspection apparatus.

In the temperature inspection of the container 2, the surface temperature of the container 2 is inspected to judge the quality of the container 2. The temperature sensor is, for example, an infrared thermometer, although other thermometers can also be used. In order to properly sterilize the container 2, it is necessary that residual heat remains in the container 2 when the container is molded. The temperature detected by the temperature sensor is preferably 50° C. or higher.

In addition, the body of the container, the support ring 1b, the top surface of the mouth of the container, and the bottom of the container are photographed by a camera, and the state of each part is inspected. The captured image is processed by an image processing device to determine the presence or absence of abnormalities such as scratches, foreign matter, deformation, and discoloration. A container 2 exceeding the allowable range is determined to be abnormal.

Containers 2 that are not judged to be abnormal by the inspection by the inspection device 15 are separated from the molding device 10 and the sterilization device 17 so that the sterilization agent gas or mist generated by the sterilization device 17 or a mixture thereof does not flow into the molding device 10. It is transported to the sterilizer 17 via a wheel in an atmosphere-isolated chamber 16 provided therebetween.

The container 2 transported to the sterilization device 17 is sterilized. The process of gassing the container 2 with a sterilant to sterilize the container 2 is shown in FIG. 2E-1. A sterilant gas spray nozzle 38 is provided to spray the container 2 with sterilant gas. The sterilant gas spraying nozzle 38 is fixed so that the nozzle hole at the tip faces the opening of the mouth portion 1a of the container 2 running directly below. If necessary, a sterilant gas spray tunnel 39 is provided below the sterilant gas spray nozzle 38 along the travel path of the container 2 as shown in FIG. 2E-1. The number of sterilant gas spray nozzles 38 may be one or plural. The sterilant gas blown into the container 2 flows into the container 2 and sterilizes the inner surface of the container 2 . At this time, as the container 2 travels through the sterilant gas spraying tunnel 39, the sterilant gas or mist, or a mixture thereof, also flows to the outer surface of the container 2, and the outer surface of the container 2 is sterilized.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2E-2, the sterilant gas spray nozzle 38 is made to follow the transportation of the container 2, and the sterilant gas spray nozzle 38 is inserted into the container 2 to release the sterilant gas or mist or these. may be directly sprayed onto the inner surface of the container 2. The sterilant gas or mist or a mixture thereof overflowing from the container 2 collides with the guide member 38a provided surrounding the sterilant gas spray nozzle 38, flows to the outer surface of the container 2, and contacts the outer surface of the container 2. do. The guide member 38a is provided with a flange coaxial with the sterilant gas spray nozzle 38 and an annular wall projecting outward from the flange.

The sterilant gas or mist or a mixture thereof is a sterilant vaporized by the sterilant gas generator, a mist of condensed vaporized sterilant, or a mixture thereof. The sterilant gas generator includes a sterilant supply unit, which is a two-fluid spray nozzle that supplies the sterilant in drops, and a sterilant supply unit that heats the sterilant supplied from the sterilant supply unit to a decomposition temperature or lower to vaporize it. and a part. The sterilant supply section introduces the sterilant and compressed air from the sterilant supply path and the compressed air supply path, respectively, and sprays the sterilant into the vaporization section. The vaporization part is a pipe with a heater sandwiched between the inner and outer walls, and heats and vaporizes the sterilant blown into this pipe. The vaporized sterilant gas is ejected from the sterilant gas spray nozzle 38 to the outside of the vaporization section. Instead of the heater, the vaporization section may be heated by induction heating.

The sterilant gas generator is not limited to the structure described above, and any device can be used as long as it can vaporize the liquid sterilant.

The sterilant gas is sprayed onto the container 2 from the sterilant gas spray nozzle 38 as shown in FIGS. 2E-1 and 2E-2. The amount of sprayed sterilant gas or mist or mixture thereof is arbitrary, but depends on the amount of sterilant supplied to the sterilant gas generator and the duration of the spray. A plurality of sterilant gas generators may be provided. The spray amount also varies depending on the size of the container 2 .

The disinfectant preferably contains at least hydrogen peroxide. The content is preferably in the range of 0.5% by mass or more and 65% by mass or less. If it is less than 0.5% by mass, the bactericidal power may be insufficient, and if it exceeds 65% by mass, it becomes difficult to handle safely. In addition, more preferable is 0.5% by mass or more and 40% by mass or less, and 40% by mass or less is easier to handle, and since the concentration is low, the residual amount of the sterilant in the container 2 after sterilization is reduced. can be reduced.

When hydrogen peroxide is used as the disinfectant, the amount of hydrogen peroxide gas sprayed is as follows. The amount of hydrogen peroxide adhering to the inner surface of the container 2 due to the hydrogen peroxide solution gas sprayed on the inner surface of the container 2 from the sterilant gas spray nozzle 38 is the amount of hydrogen peroxide solution containing 35% by mass of hydrogen peroxide. , preferably 30 μL/container or more and 150 μL/container or less, more preferably 50 μL/container or more and 100 μL/container or less. The hydrogen peroxide concentration of the hydrogen peroxide solution gas sprayed onto the container 2 is preferably 2 mg/L or more and 20 mg/L or less, more preferably 5 mg/L or more and 10 mg/L or less.

In addition, although the disinfectant contains water, one or more of alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, normal propyl alcohol and butyl alcohol, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and acetylacetone, glycol ethers, etc. Two or more types may be included.

Furthermore, disinfectants include organic acids such as peracetic acid and acetic acid, chlorine compounds such as sodium hypochlorite, compounds having a disinfecting effect such as ozone, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, phosphoric compounds, and the like. may contain additives.

The container 2 sprayed with the sterilant is sprayed with sterile air as needed. The aseptic air is obtained by passing air from a blower through an aseptic filter, and the air is preferably heated to 40° C. or higher and 170° C. or lower. Blowing heated air activates the sterilizing agent and enhances the sterilizing effect. Excess sterilant remaining in the container 2 is removed by blowing air.

The container 2 sterilized by the sterilization device 17 is conveyed to the rinse device 19 as shown in FIG. Aseptic water is sprayed on the upright container 2 by the container rinse nozzle 40 as shown in FIG. 2F-1. Sterile water is produced by a sterile water production device and supplied to the rinser chamber 20 . The sterilized water may be normal temperature, but it is preferable to heat it. Sterilized water discharges the sterilizing agent remaining inside the container 2, decomposes the remaining sterilizing agent to further enhance the sterilizing effect, and also has the effect of removing any foreign matter present inside the container 2. The sterile water sprayed inside the container 2 is discharged by rotating the gripper 32 and inverting the container 2 .

As shown in FIG. 2F-2, the sterile water may be sprayed into the container 2 with the container 2 turned upside down. In this case, foreign matter is more effectively removed than in the upright state. The container rinsing nozzle 40 may be vertically movable to blow sterile water into the container 2 .

The sterile water supplied to the rinser chamber 20 is sprayed onto the sterilized container 2 as shown in Figure 2F-1 or Figure 2F-2. The sterile water sprayed onto the container 2 may be recovered by a sterile water recovery device and reused. The sterile water used for rinsing the sterilized container 2 is discharged from the container 2 in the rinser chamber 20, collected in the sterile water recovery groove 56 provided on the floor of the chamber, and discharged from the sterile water recovery groove 56 to the valve. , and the aseptic water recovered by the aseptic water recovery pump 57 is sent to the aseptic water recovery pipe.

The sterilized water sent to the sterilized water collection pipe is supplied to a sealed container outer surface washing device 52 for washing the outer surface of the sealed container 2, which is provided on the discharge conveyor 30, to wash the outer surface of the sealed container 2. may be used for The collected sterilized water is sprayed onto the outer surface of the container by the sealed container outer surface washing device 52 to wash the outer surface of the sealed container 2 . In particular, the contents may adhere between the mouth portion 1a of the sealed container 2 and the lid member 3, and the space between the mouth portion 1a of the sealed container 2 and the lid member 3 must be washed. .

The container 2 rinsed by the rinsing device 19 is conveyed to the filling device 21 as shown in FIG. In the filling device 21, the filling wheel 22 shown in FIG. 1 fills the container 2 with the contents through the filling nozzle 41 as in the filling process shown in FIG. 2G. The contents are sterilized in advance, and the container 2 is filled with a certain amount of contents such as a beverage by a filling nozzle 41 that travels synchronously with the container 2 .

The content prepared by the preparation device and sterilized by the content sterilization device is stored in an aseptic surge tank, further sent to a head tank provided near the filling device 21, and supplied from the head tank to the filling nozzle 41. Container 2 is filled.

The container 2 filled with contents is conveyed to the sealing device 24 through the filling wheel 22 shown in FIG. In the sealing wheel 26 provided in the sealing device 24, as in the sealing step shown in FIG. , and is tightened around the opening 1a of the container 2 by a capper (not shown), and the container 2 is sealed.

The sealed container 2 is transferred from the gripper 32 of the sealing wheel 26 to the gripper 32 of the ejection wheel 27 of the ejection device 28 . The container 2 transferred to the discharge wheel 27 is placed on the discharge conveyor 30 . The containers 2 placed on the discharge conveyor 30 are discharged to the outside of the aseptic filling machine.

The outer surface of the sealed container 2 placed on the discharge conveyor 30 is washed by a sealed container outer surface washing device 52 provided in a non-sterile atmosphere. As shown in FIG. 4, the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 injects water or collected aseptic water onto the outer surface of the container 2 sealed by the lid member 3 conveyed by the discharge conveyor 30, and cleans the sealed container 2. Clean the exterior of the

Collected sterilized water is sprayed between the lid member 3 and the mouth portion 1a of the container 2 to wash the space between the lid member 3 and the mouth portion 1a of the container 2 to wash away the remaining contents. The collected sterilized water supplied to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 is jetted toward the opening of the transported container 2 so as to be orthogonal to the transport direction. A large number of sealed container washing spray nozzles 53 for spraying the collected sterilized water toward the mouth of the container 2 are provided on both sides of the discharge conveyor 30 toward the conveyed container 2 . The sealed container washing spray nozzle 53 not only sprays the recovered sterile water for washing between the lid member 3 and the mouth portion 1a of the container 2, but also sprays water for washing the outer surface of the sealed container 2. It doesn't matter if you spray it.

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of sealed container cleaning injection nozzles 53 are provided on both sides of the container 2 in the height direction. This is because the position of the mouth portion 1a of the container 2 differs depending on the capacity of the container 2 . The sealed container cleaning spray nozzle 53 that sprays the collected sterilized water according to the capacity of the container 2 is selected. I don't mind. Also, a sealed container cleaning spray nozzle 53 that can spray parts of the container 2 other than the mouth portion 1a may be provided. The distance between the sealed container cleaning injection nozzle 53 and the container 2 is configured to be adjustable according to the capacity of the container 2 .

Since the mouth portion 1a of the container 2 is covered with the lid member 3, unlike the portion other than the mouth portion 1a of the container 2, it is easy to maintain a high humidity state without drying. Therefore, in the case of a sugar-containing content, if the content adheres to the mouth portion 1a of the container 2, bacteria tend to propagate at the mouth portion 1a of the container 2. The collected sterilized water is sprayed at least between the sealed lid member 3 and the mouth portion 1a of the container 2. The lower neck, body and bottom may also be sprayed. This is because when the container 2 is filled with the contents, the contents may adhere to the outer surface of the container 2 other than the mouth portion 1a.

During production of the aseptic filling machine, the discharge conveyor 30 is sterilized with a sterilizing agent such as peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide so that bacteria do not enter the aseptic filling machine from the outside. As the container 2 is discharged from the aseptic filling machine, the bottom of the container 2 is coated with sterilant. The sterilizing agent adhering to the bottom is washed away by the sealed container outer surface washing device 52 so as not to bring it into the packaging line.

Sterile water that has flowed between the lid member 3 and the mouth portion 1a of the container 2 cannot enter the inside of the container 2 because the concave portion of the lid member 3 and the top surface of the mouth portion 1a of the container 2 are in close contact. do not have.

After spraying the sterile water, it is preferable to spray high-pressure air to wash away the sterile water remaining between the lid member 3 and the mouth portion 1a of the container 2. As shown in FIG. 4, a high-pressure air blowing device 54 is provided downstream of the cleaning device 52 for the outer surface of the sealed container. The high-pressure air blowing device 54 injects high-pressure air toward the mouth of the transported container 2 so as to be orthogonal to the transport direction. A large number of high-pressure air injection nozzles 55 for injecting high-pressure air toward the mouth of the container 2 are provided on both sides of the discharge conveyor 30 toward the conveyed container 2 .

If the contents are changed after continuous operation of filling the container 2 with the beverage by the aseptic filling machine, or if the inside of the chamber is contaminated by splashes of the contents due to continuous operation for a long time, the aseptic filling machine should be operated. Stop to clean and sanitize the chamber of the aseptic filling machine. Chambers that are not contaminated with contents are only sterilized.

The sterilizer chamber 18, the rinser chamber 20, the filler chamber 23, the sealer chamber 25, and the discharger chamber 29 are cleaned and sterilized before the aseptic filling machine manufactures products. .

　Before sterilizing each chamber, the chambers downstream from the filling device chamber 23 filled with contents are cleaned inside the chambers. The inside of the chamber, which is severely contaminated due to scattering of the contents in the chamber, is cleaned by spraying hot water, hot water, or an alkaline or acidic cleaning liquid containing caustic soda as a main component. The sterilizer chamber 18 has limited contamination and does not need to be cleaned.

During product manufacturing of the aseptic filling machine, as shown in FIG. 3, the chamber 42 is provided with a sterile air supply device 44 in order to maintain sterility in each chamber after sterilizing the chamber. The sterilized air supply device 44 supplies sterilized air into the chamber 42 by passing the air from the blower 45 through the sterilization filter 46 . The air may be heated by the heating device 47 . The chamber-side surface of the sterilization filter 46 is sterilized by spraying a sterilant. Also, an exhaust device 48 may be provided in the lower portion of the chamber 42 in order to maintain the pressure within the chamber 42 appropriately. Chamber 42 is each chamber in which at least one of cleaning and sterilization takes place.

When the cleaning sterilizing fluid is injected into the chamber, for example, the cleaning liquid is injected to perform the cleaning, the sterile water is injected to wash away the cleaning liquid, the sterilizing liquid is injected to perform the sterilization, and the sterilant is washed away. spray with sterile water. It is not necessary to use sterile water when rinsing off the cleaning solution, as it will be sterilized later. However, it is preferred to use sterile water to limit contamination of the chamber with germs.

As shown in FIG. 3, a cleaning and sterilizing fluid injection nozzle 43 is provided for injecting cleaning and sterilizing fluid into the chamber 42 . A cleaning liquid or a sterilizing liquid is jetted from the cleaning sterilizing fluid injection nozzle 43 to clean or sterilize the inside of the chamber 42 . As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning and sterilizing fluid is supplied from the cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply device 33 to the cleaning and sterilizing fluid injection nozzle 43 of the chamber 42 through the cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply pipe 36 .

As described above, depending on the function of the chamber, the cleaning liquid, the sterilizing liquid, and the sterile water are jetted from the cleaning and sterilizing fluid jetting nozzle 43 into the chamber 42 in order to perform cleaning or sterilization depending on the chamber. The cleaning and sterilizing fluid injection nozzle 43 is a spray nozzle such as a one-fluid nozzle, a two-fluid nozzle, or a rotating nozzle, and injects a cleaning liquid when cleaning and a sterilizing liquid when sterilizing. When a sterilizing liquid containing peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide is used as the sterilizing agent, the sterilizing liquid is also liquid, and the spray nozzle can also be used. Furthermore, sterile water is also a liquid and can be sprayed into chamber 42 from the same spray nozzle for liquids. A nozzle for injecting gas instead of liquid may be provided in the chamber 42 .

The cleaning/sterilizing fluid injection nozzle 43 injects the cleaning liquid or the sterilizing liquid so that it adheres to the entire area inside the chamber 42 that needs to be cleaned or sterilized. The inside of the chamber 42 is cleaned or sterilized by the jetted cleaning liquid or sterilizing liquid. The cleaning/disinfecting fluid injection nozzles 43 are positioned so that the entire area within the chamber 42 is coated with the cleaning/disinfecting liquid.

"Cleaning and sterilizing fluid" means cleaning liquid and sterilizing liquid. The cleaning and disinfecting fluid also includes water that washes away the cleaning or disinfecting components contained in the cleaning or disinfecting liquid. The cleaning and sanitizing solutions may also be heated. Water as the washing liquid is preferably sterile water. By setting the temperature of the cleaning and sterilizing fluid to 60° C. or more and 100° C. or less, the cleaning performance or sterilization performance can be significantly improved.

When the cleaning liquid is heated to 50°C or higher, it also has a sterilizing effect. For example, heating the alkaline cleaning liquid to 50°C or higher and spraying the alkaline cleaning liquid into the chamber can also be expected to have a sterilizing effect.

The cleaning liquid consists of water and cleaning agent. The cleaning agent is an inorganic basic compound such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, or an organic basic compound such as ethanolamine or diethylamine. In addition, alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts, ammonium salts of organic acids, metal ion sequestering agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and non-alkali surfactants such as polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ethers. Contains ionic surfactants, solubilizers such as sodium cumenesulfonate, acid polymers such as polyacrylic acid or their metal salts, corrosion inhibitors, preservatives, antioxidants, dispersants, antifoaming agents, etc. But I don't mind. The detergent may also contain inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and phosphoric acid, or organic acids such as acetic acid, formic acid, octanoic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, succinic acid and gluconic acid. Water without detergents or disinfectants is also used as the cleaning disinfectant fluid to wash away the detergent contained in the cleaning liquid or the disinfectant contained in the disinfectant liquid.

The sterilizing solution consists of water and a sterilizing agent. Bactericides include organic acids such as hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, and acetic acid, inorganic acids such as nitric acid, chlorine compounds such as sodium hypochlorite, compounds having a bactericidal effect such as ozone, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, phosphoric acid compounds, and the like.

The sterilizing solution preferably contains peracetic acid as a sterilizing agent, and it is preferable to keep the peracetic acid concentration at 500 mg/L or more and 5000 mg/L or less.

The sterilizing solution contains water, and one or two of alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, normal propyl alcohol and butyl alcohol, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and acetylacetone, and glycol ethers. The above may be included.

As shown in FIG. 3, the disinfecting cleaning fluid injected into the chamber 42 is collected in a cleaning disinfecting fluid recovery channel 56 provided in the bottom of the chamber 42, and the collected cleaning disinfecting fluid is collected by the cleaning disinfecting fluid recovery device 34. As shown in FIG. recovered by The cleaning and disinfecting fluid recovery system 34 includes a cleaning and disinfecting fluid recovery pump 57 and a recovered cleaning and disinfecting fluid reservoir tank 58 . The cleaning and sterilizing fluid is sent from a cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovery groove 56 provided in the bottom of the chamber 42 to a recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid storage tank 58 by a cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovery pump 57 and stored therein.

The cleaning sterilizing fluid stored in the recovered cleaning sterilizing fluid storage tank 58 is supplied to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 through the recovered cleaning sterilizing fluid supply pipe 37 by the recovered cleaning sterilizing fluid supply pump 59 . The recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply pump 59 and the recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply pipe 37 constitute the recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply device 35 .

The recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid storage tank 58 may not be provided, and the recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid may be directly supplied to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 without storing it.

The timing of cleaning or sterilization inside the chamber may differ between the filling device chamber 23 and the other chambers. The cleaning and sterilizing fluid collected in each chamber may be different, in which case the cleaning and sterilizing fluid to be supplied to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 may be selected and supplied to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52. do not have. Supplying all of the cleaning and sterilizing fluid used to all chambers simultaneously to the enclosure exterior washer 52 may be excessive, in which case the amount of cleaning and sterilization fluid supplied to the enclosure exterior cleaning device 52 may be adjusted. There is a need to.

When the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 is cleaned or sterilized, it is preferable that the cleaning and sterilizing fluid supplied is suitable for cleaning or sterilizing the inside of the chamber 42 . The inside of the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 is cleaned by supplying the cleaning and sterilizing fluid in the order of cleaning liquid containing cleaning agent, sterile water for washing away the cleaning agent, sterilizing liquid containing sterilizing agent, and sterile water for washing away the sterilizing agent. will be Finally, the recovered sterile water must be supplied without detergents or disinfectants. The sterilized water does not have to be sterilized when it is supplied to the sealed container washing device 52 .

The recovered cleaning sterilizing fluid supplied to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 is sprayed to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 from the sealed container cleaning spray nozzle 53 provided in the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 shown in FIG. The ejected recovered cleaning sterilizing fluid cleans the container outer surface washer 52 and the container outer surface washer chamber 49 that shields the container outer surface washer 52 . The sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 includes a sealed container cleaning injection nozzle 53 and a pipe connected thereto, and the outer surface of these is cleaned.

As shown in FIG. 5, a sealed container outer surface cleaning device chamber nozzle 50 may be provided on the inner wall of the sealed container outer surface cleaning device chamber 49, and the cleaning and sterilizing fluid collected from the sealed container outer surface cleaning device chamber nozzle 50 may be sprayed. . The cleaning effect of the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 is improved by injecting the cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovered from the sealed container outer surface cleaning device chamber nozzle 50 in addition to the sealed container cleaning injection nozzle 53 .

The recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid may be supplied not only to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device 52 but also to the high pressure air blowing device 54 to clean the outer surface of the high pressure air blowing device 54 . A nozzle is also provided on the inner wall of the chamber that shields the high-pressure air blowing device 54, and the high-pressure air blowing device 54 can be cleaned by injecting cleaning and sterilizing fluid collected from the nozzle into the chamber.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 preform 2 container 3 lid material 30 discharge conveyor 33 cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply device 34 cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovery device 35 recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply device 36 cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply pipe 37 recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid Supply piping 43 Cleaning and sterilizing fluid injection nozzle 49 Sealed container outer surface washing device chamber 50 Sealed container outer surface washing device chamber nozzle 52 Sealed container outer surface washing device 53 Sealed container outer surface washing injection nozzle 54 High pressure air blowing device 55 High pressure Air blowing nozzle 56 Cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovery groove 57 Cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovery pump 58 Recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid storage tank 59 Recovered cleaning and sterilizing fluid supply pump

Claims

sterilization equipment for sterilizing containers,
A filling device that fills the sterilized container with sterilized contents in an aseptic atmosphere,
In an aseptic filling machine comprising a sealing device that seals the container filled with the contents with a sterilized lid material in an aseptic atmosphere,
a step of recovering a cleaning and sterilizing fluid that is a cleaning liquid or a sterilizing liquid used when cleaning or sterilizing the inside of the chamber shielding the aseptic filling machine; and recovering a sealed container outer surface cleaning device for cleaning the outer surface of the sealed container. A method of cleaning a sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus, comprising the step of cleaning with the cleaning and sterilizing fluid.
In the method for cleaning the apparatus for cleaning the outer surface of a sealed container according to claim 1,
A cleaning method for a sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus, comprising the step of spraying the collected cleaning and sterilizing fluid from a nozzle for cleaning the outer surface of the container provided in the sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus.
In the method for cleaning a sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A method for cleaning a sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the cleaning and sterilizing fluid is a cleaning liquid.
In the method for cleaning a sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A method for cleaning a sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the cleaning sterilizing fluid is a sterilizing liquid.
In the method for cleaning a sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A method for cleaning a sealed container outer surface cleaning apparatus, wherein the cleaning and sterilizing fluid is water.
In the method for cleaning the apparatus for cleaning the outer surface of a sealed container according to claim 4,
A method for cleaning an apparatus for cleaning the outer surface of a sealed container, wherein the sterilizing liquid contains peracetic acid.
sterilization equipment for sterilizing containers,
A filling device that fills the sterilized container with sterilized contents in an aseptic atmosphere,
A sealing device that seals the container filled with the contents with a sterilized lid material in an aseptic atmosphere;
a sealed container outer surface cleaning device for cleaning the outer surface of the sealed container;
a chamber enclosing the sterilization device, the filling device and the sealing device;
a cleaning and sterilizing fluid recovery device for recovering a cleaning and sterilizing fluid that is a cleaning liquid or a sterilizing liquid sprayed into the chamber for cleaning or sterilizing the inside of the chamber; and supplying the collected cleaning and sterilizing fluid to the sealed container outer surface cleaning device. aseptic filling machine with a recovering washing and disinfecting fluid supply.