WO2023190411A1 - Content filling system - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To enable various filling operations of a bottle to be realized using a sterilized first content liquid and second content liquid. [Solution] A content filling system 10 comprises a first sterilization line 50A for sterilizing a first content liquid, a second sterilization line 50B for sterilizing a second content liquid, a first filling device 21A which is connected to the first sterilization line 50A and fills a conveyed bottle with first contents, and a second filling device 21B which is connected to the second sterilization line 50B and fills the conveyed bottle with second contents. The first sterilization line 50A is furthermore connected to the second filling device 21B, and the second sterilization line 50B is furthermore connected to the first filling device 21A.

Description

Content filling system

The present disclosure relates to a content filling system.

An aseptic filling system (aseptic filling system) is known in which a sterilized container (PET bottle) is filled with sterilized contents in an aseptic environment, and then the container is closed with a cap (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

Specifically, in an aseptic filling system, a shaped container is supplied to the aseptic filling system, and an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution as a sterilizing agent is sprayed onto the container within the aseptic filling system. Thereafter, the container is sterilized by drying the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. Next, the heat-sterilized contents are aseptically filled into the container at room temperature.

In recent years, there has been a need to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted with the aim of reducing environmental impact. After the contents are sterilized, they are filled into containers. When sterilized at high temperatures, some of the contents may decompose, cause metal corrosion to system equipment, or precipitate due to heating, deteriorating the performance of system equipment. On the other hand, there is a need for a content filling system that can realize a variety of fillings into bottles using sterilized first and second content liquids.

Patent No. 4526820

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these points, and provides a content filling system that can realize various fillings into bottles using a sterilized first content liquid and a second content liquid. The purpose is to

The present disclosure includes a first sterilization line that sterilizes a first content liquid, a second sterilization line that sterilizes a second content liquid, and a first sterilization line that is connected to the first sterilization line and that sterilizes the first content of the bottle. The first sterilization line includes a first filling device that fills a liquid, and a second filling device that is connected to the second sterilization line and fills the second content liquid into the bottle being transported. Further connected to a second filling device, said second sterilization line is a content filling system further connected to said first filling device.

In the present disclosure, a first mixing tank is interposed between the first sterilization line and the first filling device, and a second mixing tank is interposed between the second sterilization line and the second filling device. , is a content filling system.

The present disclosure is a content filling system, wherein the first sterilization line is further connected to the second mixing tank, and the second sterilization line is further connected to the first mixing tank.

The present disclosure is a content filling system, wherein the first mixing tank is further connected to the second filling device, and the second mixing tank is further connected to the first filling device.

The present disclosure further includes a third sterilization line that sterilizes the third content liquid, and a third filling device that is connected to the third sterilization line and fills the third content liquid into the transported bottle. , is a content filling system.

The present disclosure is a content filling system in which the second filling device and the third filling device are arranged in series on the downstream side in the bottle transport direction with respect to the first filling device.

The present disclosure is a content filling system in which the second filling device and the third filling device are arranged in parallel on the downstream side in the bottle conveyance direction with respect to the first filling device.

According to the present disclosure, a variety of fillings can be realized in a bottle using the sterilized first content liquid and second content liquid.

FIG. 1A is a schematic system diagram showing a content filling system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1B is a schematic plan view showing the content filling system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram showing a filling device. FIG. 2A1 is a schematic diagram showing a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A2 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2A3 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2A4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the raw material sterilization line to be mixed. FIG. 2A5 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2A6 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2A7 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing another example of the raw material sterilization line to be mixed. FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram showing another example of the raw material sterilization line to be mixed. FIG. 2D is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2E is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2F is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2G is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2H is a schematic diagram showing another example of the raw material sterilization line to be mixed. FIG. 2I is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2J is a schematic diagram showing another example of a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed. FIG. 2K is a schematic diagram showing another cleaning process of the sterilizer, and is similar to FIG. 2A1. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a first sterilizer of the sterilizer of the raw material line to be mixed according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view (cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3) showing the first sterilizer of the sterilizer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing another example of the first sterilizer of the sterilizer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5B is a sectional view (a sectional view taken along the line VB-VB in FIG. 5A) showing another example of the first sterilizer of the sterilizer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6A is a front view showing another example of the first sterilizer of the sterilizer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6B is a sectional view (a sectional view taken along the line VIB-VIB in FIG. 6A) showing another example of the first sterilizer of the sterilizer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6C is a sectional view (an enlarged view of the VIC section in FIG. 6B) showing another example of the first sterilizer of the water sterilizer according to one embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a raw material sterilization line according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a content filling method using the content filling system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9A is a flowchart showing a sterilization method of a sterilizer, which is a sterilization method for a content filling system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9B is a flowchart showing another example of the sterilization method of the sterilizer, which is the sterilization method of the content filling system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9C is a flowchart showing still another example of the sterilization method of the sterilizer, which is the sterilization method of the content filling system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9D is a flowchart showing still another example of the sterilization method of the sterilizer, which is the sterilization method of the content filling system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9E is a flowchart illustrating still another example of a method for sterilizing a sterilizer, which is a method for sterilizing a content filling system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic system diagram showing a content filling system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the first filling device and the second filling device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a first filling device, a second filling device, and a third filling device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a first filling device, a second filling device, and a third filling device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a first filling device, a second filling device, and a third filling device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a first filling device, a second filling device, and a third filling device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a first filling device, a second filling device, and a third filling device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a first filling device, a second filling device, and a third filling device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18A is a schematic diagram showing a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed in a modified example of the content filling system. FIG. 18B is a schematic diagram showing a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed in another modification of the content filling system. FIG. 18C is a schematic diagram showing a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed in a modified example of the content filling system. FIG. 18D is a schematic plan view showing a modification of the content filling system. FIG. 18E is a schematic diagram showing a sterilization line for raw materials to be mixed in a modified example of the content filling system.

<First embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 10B are diagrams showing a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

(Contents filling system)
First, a content filling system (aseptic filling system) according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

A content filling system 10 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a system for filling a bottle (container) 100 with content such as a beverage. The contents are produced by diluting the product stock solution with water. In this case, the product stock solution may be diluted with water from 1.1 times to 100 times, preferably from 2 times to 10 times. Further, the product stock solution may be diluted with water 10 times or more and 80 times or less, 20 times or more and 70 times or less, or 30 times or more and 50 times or less. The bottle 100 can be manufactured by biaxially stretching blow molding a preform 100a manufactured by injection molding a synthetic resin material. Note that the bottle 100 may be manufactured by direct blow molding. As the material for the bottle 100, it is preferable to use a thermoplastic resin, particularly PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), or PEN (polyethylene naphthalate). In addition, the container may be glass, a can, paper, a pouch, a cup, or a composite container thereof. In this embodiment, a case where a synthetic resin bottle is used as the container will be described as an example.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the content filling system 10 includes a mixing line 51A that mixes target raw materials and water to produce mixed target raw materials, and a mixed target raw material sterilization line 50 that non-heat sterilizes the mixed target raw materials. is connected to the other raw material sterilization line 70 that heat-sterilizes raw materials other than the target raw material, the raw material sterilization line 50 to be mixed, and the other raw material sterilization line 70, and the raw material to be mixed and the other raw materials are mixed. It includes a mixing tank 55 that generates the contents, and a filling device 21 that fills the bottle 100 with the contents generated in the mixing tank 55. In FIG. 1B, one filling device 21 is shown, but as shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of filling devices, preferably two or three filling fillers, may be provided as the filling device 21. Further, the filling device 21 may use a rotary filler or a linear filler. Here, "non-heat sterilization" refers to methods other than heat sterilization, and includes all sterilization methods that inactivate bacteria. Examples include ultraviolet rays, radiation, pulsed microwaves, ultrahigh pressure, ozone, high voltage extremely short pulse discharge, electrolyzed acidic water, light pulses, shock waves, and the like.

Of these, the mixing line 51A includes a water tank 50a that stores water (pure water) supplied from the pure water production device 50c, a target raw material tank 50b that stores the target raw material among the raw materials in the content, and a water tank 50a that stores the water (pure water) supplied from the pure water production device 50c. It has a mixing tank 51 that mixes water and the target raw material in the target raw material tank 50b.

In the mixing tank 51, water and the raw material to be mixed are mixed to produce a raw material to be mixed, and this raw material to be mixed is sterilized by non-heating in the raw material to be mixed sterilization line 50 as described above.

On the other hand, among the raw materials in the content, raw materials other than the target raw material are stored in other raw material tanks 71, and other raw materials stored in other raw material tanks 71 are transferred to other raw material sterilization lines as described above. Heat sterilized at 70°C.

Then, the raw materials to be mixed that have been non-heat sterilized in the raw material sterilization line 50 and other raw materials that have been heat sterilized in other raw material sterilization lines are mixed in a mixing tank 55 to produce contents.

In the present embodiment, the target raw material for the contents is thermally decomposed by being heated, or by being heated to be used for other raw materials sterilization line 70 that performs heat sterilization of the contents filling system 10. This can cause metal corrosion or precipitate, deteriorating the functionality of detection devices, etc. Therefore, in this embodiment, the target raw material is sterilized by non-heat sterilization.

On the other hand, other raw materials refer to raw materials other than the target raw materials among the raw materials of the contents. It is also possible to sterilize other raw materials without heat, but since the non-heat sterilization line has a filter as described below, the throughput will decrease due to filter blockage. In this embodiment, other raw materials are heat sterilized to prevent clogging.

Next, we will discuss the target raw materials. In this embodiment, when the content is drinking water, for example, the target raw material is vitamins.

Vitamins contained in drinking water include vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid, and folic acid. There is at least one kind or a mixture of two or more kinds selected from these derivatives.

Of these, vitamin A and vitamin D are fat-soluble vitamins that are highly thermally decomposable.

The fat-soluble vitamin is not particularly limited as long as it is a fat-soluble vitamin other than vitamin A palmitate, α-tocopherol, and vitamin E acetate. Specifically, vitamin A such as retinol, 3-hydroretinol, retinal, 3-hydroretinal, retinoic acid, 3-dehydroretinoic acid, vitamin A acetate; α, β, γ-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin , carotenoids such as echinenone, and provitamin A such as xanthophylls.

In addition, as fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin D such as vitamins D2 to D7; esters such as β, γ, δ-tocopherol, α, β, γ, δ-tocotrienol, and vitamin E nicotinic acid; vitamins K1 to K3, etc. Contains vitamin K. Moreover, these fat-soluble vitamins can be added alone, but it is also possible to add two or more kinds in combination.

Vitamins contained in drinking water decompose thermally when heated, resulting in changes in its properties and a decrease in the amount of vitamins themselves. For this reason, it is necessary to predict the loss of vitamins when heated and add a large amount of vitamins in advance.

According to this embodiment, deterioration or reduction of vitamins can be suppressed by non-heat sterilization using vitamins as a target raw material and distinguishing them from other raw materials.

In addition, when vitamins are contained in drinking water, other raw materials other than vitamins in the drinking water, such as sugar and coloring agents, become other raw materials.

Alternatively, if the content is, for example, milky drinking water or functional drinking water to which calcium has been added, the target raw material is calcium.

The calcium component contained in milky drinking water or calcium-added functional drinking water is preferably a water-soluble calcium salt, and either a water-soluble organic acid salt or an inorganic acid salt can be used. Specifically, preferred examples include organic acid salts such as calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, calcium citrate, calcium fumarate, and calcium succinate; and inorganic acid salts such as calcium chloride. The amount of calcium component to be used is preferably such that 200 to 1000 mg, more preferably 300 to 600 mg of calcium is contained per 100 g of the obtained concentrated beverage. If the calcium content is less than 200 mg per 100 g, when the concentrated beverage is diluted usually 3 to 6 times, the calcium concentration during drinking will be low, and the intended calcium-enhancing effect will be diluted. On the other hand, if the amount exceeds 1000 mg per 100 g, it is not preferable because a good flavor may not be obtained.

Alternatively, the calcium component used as the target raw material is preferably a water-soluble calcium salt, and either a water-soluble organic acid salt or an inorganic acid salt can be used. For example, organic acid salts such as calcium lactate, calcium citrate, calcium fumarate, and calcium succinate; inorganic acid salts such as calcium chloride are preferred. These can be used alone or as a mixture.

Since the calcium contained in milky drinking water precipitates at high temperatures (for example, 40° C. or higher), the amount of calcium itself precipitated on the surface of the device is reduced from the components of the drinking water. For this reason, when calcium is heated, it is necessary to predict the decrease in calcium and add a large amount of calcium in advance.

Additionally, calcium precipitates due to heating, reducing the functionality of the measuring device that controls the device.

According to this embodiment, calcium is treated as a target raw material and is sterilized by non-heating while being distinguished from other raw materials, thereby suppressing the decrease due to calcium precipitation or the functional deterioration of the measuring device.

In addition, when calcium is contained in the milky drinking water, other raw materials other than calcium in the milky drinking water, such as lactic acid bacteria fermented milk, sugar, pectin aqueous solution, etc., are other raw materials.

Alternatively, if the content is functional drinking water containing, for example, a chloride compound, the target raw material is a chloride compound that generates chloride ions.

In addition, the ingredients contained in functional drinking water for the purpose of replenishing electrolytes such as sodium and water lost through exercise, etc. include sodium chloride (salt), sodium citrate, potassium chloride, sodium phosphate, and magnesium chloride. , sugars, fragrances, etc.

In addition, as an example of the chloride ion concentration of electrolytes in functional drinking water intended for electrolytes such as sodium and water lost due to exercise, etc., it is 3 to 30,000 mEq/l (functional drinking water that is drunk directly without dilution). (preferably 4 to 1,000 mEq/l).

Additionally, chloride compounds that generate chloride ions are sometimes contained in liquid foods such as noodle soup. In this case, a chloride compound that generates chloride ions is the target raw material, and another raw material that does not generate chloride ions is the other raw material. Examples of such noodle soups include mentsuyu (straight) and mentsuyu (3 times concentrated). Further, specific examples of the above-mentioned liquid foods include dark soy sauce and hotpot soup.

Note that functional drinking water and liquid foods are not limited to those mentioned above. For example, functional drinking water or liquid foods with a chlorine concentration of 12 mg/100 ml or more and a Cl concentration of 3 mEq/l or more may cause metal corrosion over time depending on the heating temperature, heating time, and stress damage to the metal. . Therefore, it is included in the functional drinking water or liquid food according to this embodiment.

When heated, chloride ions contained in functional drinking water or the like containing chloride compounds cause metal corrosion to the various lines 50A, 50, 70 of the content filling system 10 or the filling device 21, especially other raw material sterilization lines 70. cause

That is, SUS316L material, SUS317L, SUS329J1 material, SUS890L material, super stainless steel material, and titanium material, which have excellent corrosion resistance, are normally used as parts of the content filling system 10, but chloride ions become more corrosive when heated. , metal corrosion is caused in these SUS316L materials, SUS317L, SUS329J1 materials, SUS890L materials, super stainless steel materials, and titanium materials.

In addition, chloride ions are precipitated by heating and are precipitated within the various lines 70 of the content filling system 10, degrading the functionality of the measuring device and the like.

According to the present embodiment, by non-heating sterilization using chloride ions as a target raw material to distinguish it from other raw materials, metal corrosion or functional deterioration can be suppressed within the content filling system 10.

Alternatively, in the case of drinking water to which the contents include, for example, flavorings, sweeteners, acidulants, coloring agents, preservatives, etc., the target raw materials may include flavoring agents, sweeteners, acidulants, coloring agents, and preservatives.

Drinking water to which flavorings, sweeteners, acidulants, coloring agents, preservatives, etc. have been added will thermally decompose when heated, resulting in changes in its properties and a decrease or deterioration in the amount and functionality of the added substances themselves. . (including a decrease in stability) Therefore, when the additive is heated, it is necessary to predict the amount of decrease and add a large amount in advance.

According to the present embodiment, flavorings, sweeteners, acidulants, colorants, and preservatives are target raw materials and are separated from other raw materials and non-heat sterilized. It is possible to suppress the deterioration or reduction of materials.

In the present embodiment, the fragrances include aromatic alcohol-based aromatic aldehydes, aliphatic higher alcohol-based aliphatic higher aldehydes, ester-based ketones, and phenol ether-based phenols. Specific examples include citrus essential oils such as orange oil, lemon oil, grapefruit oil, lime oil, tangerine oil, mandarin oil and bergamot oil; essential oils such as peppermint oil, spearmint oil and cinnamon oil; allspice and anise. Spices such as seeds, basil, laurel, cardamom, celery, cloves, cumin, dale, garlic, ginger, mace, mustard, onion, paprika, parsley, black pepper, nutmeg, saffron, rosemary, essential oils or oleoresins; and limonene. , linalool, nerol, citronellol, geraniol, citral, l-menthol, eugenol, cinnamic aldehyde, anethole, perilaldehyde, vanillin, γ-undecalactone, l-carvone, maltol, furfuryl mercaptan, ethyl propionate, caproic acid Known fragrance compounds such as allyl, methyl-n-amyl ketone, diacetyl, acetic acid, and butyric acid; fragrance oils (reactive flavors); and blended fragrances made by mixing any combination of these natural essential oils, oleoresins, fragrance compounds, etc. However, it is not limited to these.

In this embodiment, sweeteners include natural sweeteners such as stevia extract (such as stevioside), Luo Han Guo extract, and thaumatin; and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, saccharin, neotame, and advantame. .

In this embodiment, the acidulant includes carboxylic acids, amino acids, brewed vinegars, fermented milk foods, and plant-derived acidulants. Examples of the carboxylic acids include acetic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, methylene succinic acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid, glutaric acid, α-ketoglutaric acid, and the like. Examples of the above amino acids include glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Examples of the above-mentioned brewed vinegars include rice vinegar, grain vinegar, malt vinegar, black vinegar, grape vinegar, plum vinegar, and apple vinegar. Examples of the milk fermented foods include yogurt and whey. The above-mentioned plant-derived acidulants include citrus fruits such as unshu mandarin oranges, summer mandarin oranges, yuzu, daidai, sudachi, lemon, grapefruit, fruit juices of apples, strawberries, grapes, pineapples, peaches, acerola, tomatoes, plums, rice bran, soybeans, etc. Examples include grain extracts containing inositol hexaphosphate, such as wheat and corn, and purified products thereof; petals of hibiscus and roses; crushed products, such as perilla leaves, lettuce, and celery; and extracts thereof.

In this embodiment, the coloring agent includes carotene pigments (carotenoid pigments), cochineal pigments, anthocyanin pigments, gardenia pigments, red koji pigments, and the like.

In this embodiment, the preservatives include benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, isobutyl paraoxybenzoate, isopropyl paraoxybenzoate, ethyl paraoxybenzoate, butyl paraoxybenzoate, propyl paraoxybenzoate, etc. There is.

In addition, other raw materials other than flavorings, sweeteners, acidulants, coloring agents, and preservatives in drinking water containing flavoring agents, sweeteners, acidulants, coloring agents, and preservatives, such as acidulants, fruit juice, caffeine, sugar, etc. It becomes the raw material for

Alternatively, the content may be an infusion containing at least one or a mixture of two selected from amino acids and electrolytes. Amino acids in infusions undergo thermal decomposition when heated, resulting in changes in their properties and a decrease in the amount of amino acids themselves. For this reason, when amino acids are heated, it is necessary to add a large amount of amino acids in advance in anticipation of the loss. Furthermore, the electrolytic solution in the infusion contains a chloride compound that generates chloride ions.

When heated, the chloride ions contained in the infusion cause metal corrosion in the various lines 50A, 50, 70 of the content filling system 10, or the filling device 21, especially the other raw material sterilization line 70.

That is, SUS316L material, SUS317L, SUS329J1 material, SUS890L material, super stainless steel material, and titanium material, which have excellent corrosion resistance, are normally used as parts of the content filling system 10, but chloride ions become more corrosive when heated. , metal corrosion also occurs on these SUS316L materials, SUS317L, SUS329J1 materials, SUS890L materials, super stainless steel materials, and titanium materials.

In addition, chloride ions are precipitated by heating and are precipitated within the various lines 70 of the content filling system 10, degrading the functionality of the measuring device and the like.

According to the present embodiment, a mixture of at least one or two selected from amino acids and electrolytes is used as the target raw material, and is sterilized by non-heating while distinguishing it from other raw materials in the infusion, so that it can be stored in the content filling system 10. metal corrosion or functional deterioration can be suppressed.

Here, other raw materials other than the amino acids and electrolytes in the infusion become other raw materials in the infusion. Other ingredients in such infusions include sugars, fat emulsions, or trace elements.

Next, we will discuss each component in the infusion.

As the amino acid, various amino acids (essential amino acids and non-essential amino acids) that have been used in amino acid infusions for the purpose of nutritional supplementation to living organisms can be used. Specifically, for example, L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-valine, L-lysine, L-methionine, L-phenylalanine, L-threonine, L-tryptophan, L-arginine, L-histidine, glycine, L- Examples include alanine, L-proline, L-aspartic acid, L-serine, L-tyrosine, L-glutamic acid, and L-cysteine. These amino acids do not necessarily have to be used in the form of free amino acids, but can be used in the form of inorganic acid salts (for example, L-lysine hydrochloride, etc.) or organic acid salts (for example, L-lysine acetate, L-lysine malate, etc.). , in vivo hydrolyzable esters (e.g., L-tyrosine methyl ester, L-methionine methyl ester, L-methionine ethyl ester, etc.), N-substituted products (e.g., N-acetyl-L-tryptophan, N- acetyl-L-cysteine, N-acetyl-L-proline, etc.), dipeptides with peptide bonds of the same or different amino acids (e.g., L-tyrosyl-L-tyrosine, L-alanyl-L-tyrosine, L-arginyl) -L-tyrosine, L-tyrosyl-L-arginine, etc.).

As the electrolyte, various water-soluble salts conventionally used in infusions such as physiological saline can be used. The water-soluble salts include, for example, various inorganic components (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, iodine) necessary for maintaining biological functions and electrolyte balance of body fluids. , phosphorus, etc.). Specifically, it includes, for example, chloride, sulfate, acetate, gluconate, lactate, and the like. These water-soluble salts may be hydrates.

For example, various saccharides can be used as the sugar in an infusion such as 5% glucose injection. Among them, reducing sugars are preferably used. Examples of reducing sugars include glucose, fructose, and maltose. These reducing sugars can be used singly or in combination of two or more. Furthermore, these reducing sugars can also be used in combination with sorbitol, xylitol, and the like.

Trace elements refer to elements that improve various deficiency symptoms that may occur when administering high-calorie infusion therapy to humans. Specific examples include iron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine, selenium, molybdenum, chromium, and fluorine. Only one type of these trace elements may be used, or two or more types may be used depending on the condition of the target patient. In the present invention, trace elements are filled in a compartment different from components that can undergo chemical changes due to their coexistence with trace elements.

As the fat emulsion, it is preferable to use an oil-in-water emulsion produced by dispersing fats and oils in water using an emulsifier. Production of fat emulsions can be carried out by known methods. In the present invention, the fat emulsion is loaded into a separate compartment from the electrolyte. Depending on the purpose, fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K may be filled together with the fat emulsion.

Next, the content filling system 10 according to this embodiment will be further described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the content filling system 10 includes a control unit 90 that controls the content filling system 10. The contents filling system 10 includes a bottle forming section 30, a sterilizing device (container sterilizing device) 11, an air rinsing device 14, the above-mentioned filling device 21, and a capping device (capper, seaming and capping machine) 16. , and a product bottle unloading section 25. The bottle forming section 30, the sterilizing device 11, the air rinsing device 14, the filling device 21, the cap mounting device 16, and the product bottle unloading section 25 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance direction of the bottle 100. has been done. A plurality of conveyance wheels 12 are provided between the air rinse device 14, the filling device 21, the cap attachment device 16, etc. to convey the bottle 100 between these devices. Here, the bottle forming section 30, the sterilizing device 11, the air rinsing device 14, the filling device 21, the cap attaching device 16, and the product bottle unloading section 25 will be explained.

The bottle molding section 30 is configured to receive a preform 100a from the outside and mold the bottle 100. The bottle molding unit 30 is configured to transport the molded bottle 100 toward the sterilizer 11. Thereby, in the content filling system 10, the steps from supplying the preform 100a, molding the bottle 100, filling the bottle 100 with the content, and closing the bottle can be performed continuously. In this case, a preform 100a with a small volume, rather than a bottle 100 with a large volume, is transported from the outside to the filling system 10. Therefore, transportation costs can be reduced.

The bottle molding section 30 includes a preform transport section 31 that transports the preform 100a, and a blow molding section (container molding section) that molds the bottle 100 from the preform 100a by performing blow molding on the preform 100a. 32, and a bottle transport section 33 that transports the molded bottle 100.

Of these, the preform transport section 31 includes a receiving section 34, a heating section 35, and a delivery section 36. Of these, the receiving section 34 is configured to receive the preform 100a supplied from the preform supply device 1 via the preform supply conveyor 2. This receiving section 34 is provided with a preform sterilizer 34a for sterilizing the preform 100a, and a preform air rinsing device 34b for air rinsing the preform 100a. In the illustrated example, the receiving section 34 is provided with one preform sterilizer 34a and one preform air rinse device 34b. Note that the number of preform sterilizers 34a and preform air rinse devices 34b is not limited to this.

In the receiving section 34, the preform sterilizer 34a sprays hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution gas or mist onto the preform 100a to sterilize the preform 100a (preliminary sterilization).

The sterilizing agent for sterilizing the preform 100a may have the property of inactivating microorganisms, such as hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, acetic acid, pernitric acid, nitric acid, chlorine-based agents, and water. Alcohols such as sodium oxide, potassium hydroxide, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol, chlorine dioxide, ozone water, acidic water, and surfactants may be used alone, or two or more of these may be used in combination. .

In this way, by sterilizing the preform 100a in advance (preliminary sterilization) using the preform sterilizer 34a, it is possible to reduce the number of bacteria that adhere to the bottle 100 produced from the preform 100a. Therefore, the amount of hydrogen peroxide used in the sterilizer 11 that sterilizes the bottle 100 can be reduced, and the sterilization time can be shortened. Here, in general, the amount of sterilizer used to sterilize the small-volume preform 100a may be smaller than the amount of sterilizer used to sterilize the bottle 100. Therefore, by pre-sterilizing the preform 100a, the total amount of disinfectant used can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the amount of hydrogen peroxide used in the sterilizer 11 can be reduced and the sterilization time can be shortened, the sterilizer 11 can be made smaller. Furthermore, since the sterilization time for sterilizing the bottle 100 can be shortened, the heat load on the bottle 100 can be reduced. Therefore, even if the bottle 100 is lightweight or uses recycled PET, deformation of the bottle 100 due to the heat of the disinfectant can be suppressed.

Furthermore, since the number of bacteria adhering to the bottle 100 can be reduced by pre-sterilizing the preform 100a, the sterilization conditions may be weakened in the sterilizer 11. Generally, in order to improve the sterilization effect in the sterilizer 11, the body of the bottle 100 is heated by supplying hot water from a mold temperature controller (not shown) to the mold in the blow molding section 32. Heat set. Thereby, the sterilization effect in the sterilizer 11 can be improved, and the shrinkage of the bottle 100 in the sterilizer 11 can be reduced. However, in the present embodiment, as described above, by pre-sterilizing the preform 100a, the number of bacteria adhering to the bottle 100 can be reduced. Therefore, the blow molding section (container molding device) 32 may mold the bottle 100 without adjusting the temperature of the bottle 100 with hot water. That is, in the blow molding section 32, the hot water that has been supplied to the mold in order to improve the sterilization effect does not need to be supplied to the mold. As a result, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the content filling system 10 can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to supply hot water to the mold of the blow molding section 32, the blow molding section 32 can be simplified. Furthermore, since the blow molding section 32 can be simplified, the amount of heat applied to the bottle 100 can be reduced. Therefore, even if the hot water described above is not supplied to the mold, shrinkage of the bottle 100 in the sterilizer 11 can be reduced.

Note that such sterilization treatment may be performed not only at the receiving section 34 but also at the heating section 35 or the delivery section 36. Furthermore, the sterilization process may be performed after the bottle 100 is formed, between the bottle transport section 33 and the filling device 20. Furthermore, the sterilization treatment may be performed at multiple locations. In addition, in the sterilization treatment, bacteria may be inactivated by ultraviolet irradiation, electron beam irradiation, or the like, without using a sterilizing agent.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the above-mentioned preform air rinsing device 34b is provided downstream of the preform sterilizing device 34a. The preform 100a sprayed with the disinfectant is dried with hot air in the preform air rinse device 34b. At this time, it is preferable that hot air is supplied to the preform 100a with the mouth of the preform 100a facing downward. Thereby, foreign matter can be effectively removed from within the preform 100a. Therefore, the step of washing the preform 100a with sterile water can be omitted, and the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the content filling system 10 can be reduced. Note that the receiving section 34 may not be provided with the preform air rinse device 34b. Further, in the receiving section 34, a foreign matter removing device (not shown) for removing foreign matter adhering to the preform 100a may be provided upstream of the preform sterilizing device 34a.

The heating unit 35 is configured to receive the preform 100a from the receiving unit 34 and heat the preform 100a while conveying it. This heating section 35 is provided with a heater 35a that heats the preform 100a. This heater 35a may be, for example, an infrared heater. The preform 100a is heated, for example, to about 90° C. or more and 130° C. or less by the heater 35a. Note that the temperature at the mouth of the preform 100a is suppressed to 70° C. or lower to prevent deformation and the like.

The delivery section 36 is configured to receive the preform 100a heated by the heating section 35 and deliver it to the blow molding section 32.

The blow molding section 32 includes a mold (not shown). The bottle 100 is molded by performing blow molding on the preform 100a using this mold. The shaped bottle 100 is then transported downstream by the bottle transport section 33.

Here, between the bottle molding section 30 and the sterilizer 11, there is provided an adjustment transport section 5 that receives the bottle 100 from the bottle transport section 33 and delivers the bottle 100 to the sterilizer 11. At least a portion of this adjustment conveyance section 5 is housed inside an atmosphere isolation chamber 70c (described later) provided upstream of a disinfectant spray chamber 70d (described later). In the illustrated example, the adjustment conveyance section 5 is arranged so as to straddle a forming section chamber 70b (described later) that accommodates the bottle forming section 30 and an atmosphere blocking chamber 70c. As described above, at least a portion of the adjustment conveyance section 5 is housed inside the atmosphere isolation chamber 70c, so that the sterilant gas or mist or the mixture thereof generated in the sterilizer spray chamber 70d can be It is possible to suppress the liquid from flowing into the internal chamber 70b.

In the illustrated example, a single conveyance wheel 12 is provided between the adjustment conveyance section 5 and the bottle conveyance section 33 of the bottle forming section 30. That is, between the blow molding section 32 of the bottle molding section 30 and the sterilizer 11, the bottle conveyance section 33 of the bottle molding section 30, the single conveyance wheel 12, and the adjustment conveyance section 5 are provided. Thereby, the content filling system 10 can be made more compact compared to a case where a plurality of conveyance wheels 12 are provided between the adjustment conveyance section 5 and the bottle conveyance section 33 of the bottle forming section 30. Although not shown, only the adjustment conveyance section 5 may be provided between the blow molding section 32 of the bottle molding section 30 and the sterilizer 11. In this case, the content filling system 10 can be made even more compact.

The sterilizer 11 is a device that sterilizes the bottle 100 by injecting a sterilizer into the bottle 100. Thereby, the bottle 100 is sterilized by the sterilizing agent before filling with the contents. As the disinfectant, for example, an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is used. In the sterilizer 11 , a gas or mist of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is generated, and the gas or mist is sprayed onto the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 100 . Since the bottle 100 is thus sterilized with the gas or mist of the hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution, the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 100 are sterilized evenly.

The air rinse device 14 is a device that removes foreign matter, hydrogen peroxide, etc. from inside the bottle 100 while activating hydrogen peroxide by supplying sterile heated air or room temperature air to the bottle 100. At this time, it is preferable that sterile air be supplied to the bottle 100 with the mouth of the bottle 100 facing downward. Thereby, foreign matter can be effectively removed from inside the bottle 100. Therefore, the step of washing the bottle 100 with sterile water can be omitted, and the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the content filling system 10 can be reduced. Note that, if necessary, a condensed mist of low concentration hydrogen peroxide may be mixed with sterilized air at room temperature to gasify hydrogen peroxide, and the gasified hydrogen peroxide may be supplied to the bottle 100.

The filling device 21 is a device that fills the bottle 100 with water and product stock solution. That is, the filling device 21 fills the bottle 100 from the mouth of the bottle 100 with a liquid content consisting of a raw material to be mixed, which is made by mixing the target raw material and water, and which has been sterilized by non-heating, and other raw materials which have been sterilized by heat. It is filled with Thereby, in the filling device 21, the empty bottle 100 is filled with the contents generated by mixing the raw material to be mixed, which is made of water and the target raw material, and other raw materials. In this filling device 21, contents are filled into the inside of the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

The filling device 21 is placed inside a sterile chamber 70f, which will be described later. The filling device 21 may be a so-called rotary filler having a plurality of rotatable filling nozzles 21a (see FIG. 1C).

The filling device 21 fills the bottle 100 with sterilized contents. In this case, the filling device 21 fills the empty bottle 100 with sterilized contents.

The cap attachment device 16 is a device that closes the bottle 100 by attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100. In the cap attachment device 16, the bottle 100 filled with water, the target raw material, and other raw materials (contents) is closed with a cap 88, and the bottle 100 is sealed to prevent outside air and microorganisms from entering. In the cap attachment device 16, the caps 88 are attached to the mouths of the plurality of bottles 100 filled with contents while being rotated (revolving). By attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100 in this manner, a product bottle 101 is obtained.

The cap 88 is sterilized in advance by the cap sterilizer 18. The cap sterilizer 18 is disposed, for example, outside the sterile chamber 70f and near the cap attachment device 16. In the cap sterilizing device 18 , a large number of caps 88 brought in from outside the content filling system 10 are collected in advance and conveyed in a line toward the cap mounting device 16 . While the cap 88 is on its way to the cap mounting device 16, hydrogen peroxide gas or mist is blown toward the inner and outer surfaces of the cap 88, and then dried with hot air and sterilized.

The product bottle unloading section 25 continuously unloads the product bottles 101 to which the caps 88 have been attached by the cap attaching device 16 to the outside of the content filling system 10 .

The content filling system 10 includes a preform sterilization chamber 70a, a forming part chamber 70b, an atmosphere isolation chamber 70c, a sterilizer spray chamber 70d, an air rinse chamber 70e, a sterile chamber 70f, and an outlet chamber 70g. have. Of these, an air rinse chamber 70e is provided upstream of the sterile chamber 70f. That is, the preform sterilization chamber 70a, the forming part chamber 70b, the atmosphere isolation chamber 70c, the sterilizer spray chamber 70d, the air rinse chamber 70e, the sterile chamber 70f, and the outlet chamber 70g are arranged along the transport direction of the preform 100a and the bottle 100. They are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side.

The chambers 70a to 70g are separated by partition walls. The partition wall serves to prevent the sterilizer and the like from flowing in unintended directions between the chambers 70a to 70g, and to stabilize the pressure within each chamber 70a to 70g. Note that a gap is formed in the partition wall, which is large enough to allow the preform 100a or the bottle 100 to pass through. This gap is formed to a minimum size, for example, approximately the size of one preform 100a or bottle 100, so that the pressure within each chamber 70a to 70g does not change. Furthermore, the partition wall may be provided with a shutter that closes the above-mentioned gap. This shutter may be configured to open and close automatically in response to a signal from the control unit 90, for example.

Among the chambers 70a to 70g, the preform sterilizer 34a and the like are housed inside the preform sterilizer chamber 70a.

The blow molding section 32 of the bottle molding section 30 and the like are housed inside the molding section chamber 70b.

At least a portion of the adjustment transport section 5 is housed inside the atmosphere blocking chamber 70c. Furthermore, a camera may be provided inside the atmosphere blocking chamber 70c. Then, by using a camera, it may be inspected whether the bottle 100 has any problems in molding. Furthermore, a thermometer may be provided inside the atmosphere isolation chamber 70c. The temperature of the bottle 100 before sterilization may be measured by this thermometer. Here, the temperature of the bottle 100 is one of the important factors that influences the sterilization efficiency of the bottle 100. That is, by keeping the temperature of the bottle 100 at an appropriate temperature, the sterilization efficiency of the bottle 100 can be improved. Therefore, by measuring the temperature of the bottle 100 before sterilization with a thermometer, the temperature of the bottle 100 during sterilization can be maintained at an appropriate temperature, and the sterilization efficiency of the bottle 100 can be improved. Furthermore, inside the atmosphere blocking chamber 70c, the pitch between bottles 100 on the bottle forming section 30 side may be changed to the pitch between bottles 100 on the filling device 21. Alternatively, an adjustment wheel may be provided inside the atmosphere isolation chamber 70c to align the phases of the bottle forming section 30 and the filling device 21 and synchronize the rotational speeds of the wheels.

A sterilizer 11 is housed inside the sterilizer spray chamber 70d. Furthermore, the air rinse device 14 is housed inside the air rinse chamber 70e.

A filling device 21, a conveyance wheel 12, and a cap mounting device 16 are housed inside the sterile chamber 70f. Furthermore, a product bottle delivery section 25 is housed inside the outlet chamber 70g.

Pressure gauges (not shown) are installed inside the preform sterilization chamber 70a, sterilizer spray chamber 70d, air rinse chamber 70e, sterile chamber 70f, and outlet chamber 70g to measure the pressure inside each chamber. ing. Note that a pressure gauge may be attached to the molding section chamber 70b and/or the atmosphere isolation chamber 70c to measure the pressure inside each chamber.

Here, as described above, the content filling system 10 includes the control unit 90 that controls the content filling system 10. This control section 90 is electrically connected to the filling device 21 and controls the filling device 21. The control unit 90 controls the mixing target raw material sterilization line 50, other raw material sterilization lines 70, the bottle forming unit 30, the sterilizer 11, the air rinse device 14, the cap mounting device 16, the product bottle delivery unit 25, and the cap sterilizer 18. They may be electrically connected, and the control unit 90 may control the mixing target material sterilization line 50 and the like.

This control unit 90 may clean and sterilize the inside of each chamber, and may also clean and sterilize a sterilizer 60, which will be described later, in the mixing target raw material sterilization line 50. In this embodiment, the control unit 90 cleans the inside of the sterile chamber 70f (hereinafter, cleaning inside each chamber is also referred to as COP). The control unit 90 also cleans the filling device 21 (hereinafter, cleaning inside the filling device 21 is also referred to as CIP (Cleaning in Place)).

Note that when producing the product bottle 101, the pressure inside the sterile chamber 70f is preferably 30 Pa or more and 60 Pa or less.

Furthermore, the pressure within the air rinse chamber 70e is preferably equal to or lower than the pressure within the sterile chamber 70f. Thereby, the air in the air rinse chamber 70e can be prevented from entering the sterile chamber 70f. Therefore, the sterile state inside the sterile chamber 70f can be maintained well.

When cleaning and sterilizing the inside of the sterile chamber 70f, the pressure inside the air rinse chamber 70e is preferably 10 Pa or more and 40 Pa or less. Further, when cleaning and sterilizing the filling device 21, the pressure inside the air rinse chamber 70e is preferably 10 Pa or more and 40 Pa or less. Thereby, the air in the air rinse chamber 70e can be prevented from entering the sterile chamber 70f, and the sterile state inside the sterile chamber 70f can be maintained even better. Note that when producing the product bottle 101, the pressure in the air rinse chamber 70e is preferably 10 Pa or more and 30 Pa or less.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the pressure within the disinfectant spray chamber 70d is equal to or lower than the pressure within the atmosphere isolation chamber 70c. Thereby, the air in the disinfectant spray chamber 70d can be prevented from entering the atmosphere isolation chamber 70c and the forming part chamber 70b. Here, by being able to suppress the air in the sterilizing agent spray chamber 70d from entering into the molding part chamber 70b, it is possible to suppress the increase in humidity in the molding part chamber 70b. As described above, the blow molding section 32 of the bottle molding section 30 is housed inside the molding section chamber 70b. Therefore, by suppressing the increase in humidity within the molding section chamber 70b, corrosion of the machine that constitutes the blow molding section 32 can be suppressed.

When cleaning and sterilizing the inside of the sterile chamber 70f, the pressure inside the sterilizing agent spraying chamber 70d is preferably 0 Pa or more and 20 Pa or less. Furthermore, when cleaning and sterilizing the filling device 21, the pressure inside the sterilizing agent spray chamber 70d is preferably 0 Pa or more and 20 Pa or less. Thereby, the air in the disinfectant spray chamber 70d can be prevented from entering the atmosphere isolation chamber 70c and the molding part chamber 70b, and the rise in humidity in the molding part chamber 70b can be suppressed. Note that when producing the product bottle 101, the pressure inside the disinfectant spray chamber 70d is preferably -10 Pa or more and 10 Pa or less.

When cleaning and sterilizing the inside of the sterile chamber 70f, the pressure inside the outlet chamber 70g is preferably 0 Pa or more and 20 Pa or less. Further, when cleaning and sterilizing the filling device 21, the pressure inside the outlet chamber 70g is preferably 0 Pa or more and 20 Pa or less. Thereby, the air in the outlet chamber 70g can be prevented from entering the sterile chamber 70f, and the sterile state inside the sterile chamber 70f can be maintained even better. Note that when producing the product bottle 101, the pressure in the outlet chamber 70g is preferably 10 Pa or more and 20 Pa or less.

Such a content filling system 10 may be comprised of, for example, an aseptic filling system. In this case, the interiors of the disinfectant spray chamber 70d, air rinse chamber 70e, sterile chamber 70f, and outlet chamber 70g are maintained in a sterile state. Note that a chamber (not shown) that connects a sterile zone in a sterile state and a non-sterile zone in a non-sterile state may be provided downstream of the outlet chamber 70g.

Next, the mixing line 51A, the mixing target material sterilization line 50, and the other material sterilization line 70 of the content filling system 10 will be explained.

First, the mixing line 51A will be explained with reference to FIG. 2A1. The mixing line 51A mixes the target raw material and water to produce a mixed target raw material. Such a mixing line 51A includes a water tank 50a that stores water (pure water) supplied from the pure water production device 50c, a target raw material tank 50b that stores target raw materials among the raw materials in the contents, and a water tank 50a. It has a mixing tank 51 that mixes the water in the container and the target raw material in the target raw material tank 50b to generate the raw material to be mixed.

The water tank 50a is a tank that stores water (pure water) supplied from a water supply source (for example, the above-mentioned pure water production device 50c). For example, if the content is drinking water, it is mandatory to use water for food manufacturing as stipulated by the Food Sanitation Act. The water for food production is pure water (RO water, ion exchange water, or distilled water) produced by a pure water production apparatus 50c equipped with activated carbon, a reverse osmosis membrane, an ion exchange resin (including EDI), or the like. Pure water is water from which impurities such as calcium, magnesium, chlorine, iron, or minerals have been removed. In this case, the evaporation residue of pure water is 20 mg/L or less. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of pure water is 0.1 μS/cm or more and 20 μS/cm or less. As described later, in this embodiment, water is sterilized by ultraviolet light. Therefore, by setting the electrical conductivity of the water to be sterilized to 20 μS/cm or less, it is possible to prevent inorganic substances (oxides such as calcium) from adhering to the surfaces of the first ultraviolet lamp 67a, etc., which will be described later. Therefore, a decrease in ultraviolet transmittance can be prevented. Further, the water supplied from the pure water production device 50c is not limited to pure water, and may be ultrapure water. Purified water used as pharmaceutical water or water for injection may be used.

This water tank 50a plays a role of smoothing the flow of water by storing water. The volume of the water tank 50a may be 30 m ³ or more and 100 m ³ or less, and may be 50 m ³ as an example.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the number of bacteria in the water tank 50a is 0.01 CFU/mL or more and 10 CFU/mL or less. Note that if the number of bacteria in the water tank 50a is greater than 10 CFU/mL, it is preferable to sterilize the water tank 50a with chlorine, hot water, steam, or the like. The number of bacteria in the water tank 50a may be constantly monitored and controlled to be within the above range. This makes it possible to produce water that maintains sterility without the need for additional equipment. For this reason, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the sterilizer 60 can be reduced without making the sterilizer 60 of the mixing target material sterilization line 50 described later expensive. Note that a pre-stage sterilizer 62A having the same configuration as the first sterilizer 62 may be provided on the upstream or downstream side of the water tank 50a.

Further, the target raw material tank 50b stores the target raw material among the contents described above, and the water from the water tank 50a and the target raw material from the target raw material tank 50b are mixed in the mixing tank 51, and the target raw material is mixed. generated.

A pump P1 for transporting water and a flow meter F for measuring the flow rate of water may be provided on the downstream side of the mixing line 51A having such a configuration. The pump P1 and the flow meter F may be provided in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the water transport direction. Furthermore, on the downstream side of the flow meter F, there is provided a mixing target material sterilization line 50 consisting of the above-mentioned sterilizer 60.

The mixing target raw material sterilization line 50 consisting of the sterilizer 60 is a sterilizer that sterilizes the mixing target raw material obtained by mixing water and the target raw material in the mixing tank 51 without heating. Note that details of the sterilizer 60 will be described later.

Further, a tank 52 is provided downstream of the sterilizer 60, and this tank 52 is a tank (so-called aseptic tank) that stores the raw materials to be mixed that have been sterilized by the sterilizer 60. This tank 52 plays a role of smoothing the flow of the raw materials to be mixed by storing the sterilized raw materials to be mixed. The volume of the tank 52 may be 5 m ³ or more and 50 m ³ or less, and may be 10 m ³ as an example.

Further, a mixing tank 55 is provided downstream of the tank 52, and the mixing tank 55 mixes the raw material to be mixed with other raw materials sterilized by the other raw material sterilization line 70 to generate contents. Ru.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2A2, a circulation line 59 may be connected to the upstream side of the tank 52. This circulation line 59 may be connected to the mixing tank 51. As a result, water is circulated by the foreign matter removal filter 61 of the sterilizer 60, the first sterilizer 62, the first sterilizer filter 63, the second sterilizer 64, the second sterilizer filter 65, the circulation line 59, and the mixing tank 51. A circulatory system 59A may be configured.

(raw material sterilization line and sterilizer for mixing)
Next, the sterilizer 60 of the raw material sterilization line 50 to be mixed will be explained. This sterilizer 60 is a sterilizer that sterilizes the raw materials to be mixed used in the content filling system 10. In this embodiment, the sterilizer 60 sterilizes the raw materials to be mixed without heating. As described above, the sterilizer 60 sterilizes the raw materials to be mixed stored in the mixing tank 51. Therefore, the sterilizer 60 sterilizes the raw materials to be mixed whose electrical conductivity is 0.1 μS/cm or more and 20 μS/cm or less.

As shown in FIGS. 2A1 and 2A2, the sterilizer 60 includes at least one sterilization filter (a first sterilization filter 63 and a second sterilization filter 65). Furthermore, the sterilizer 60 includes at least one sterilizer (a first sterilizer 62 and a second sterilizer 64). Since the sterilizer 60 includes at least one sterilizing filter and at least one sterilizer, even if one of the sterilizing filter and the sterilizer is stopped, the sterilizing filter and the sterilizing machine can be operated. By the other hand, the sterility of the water can be guaranteed. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2A2, the sterilizer 60 has a circulation system 95A described later.

In the example shown in FIGS. 2A1 and 2A2, the sterilizer 60 includes a foreign matter removal filter 61, a first sterilizer 62, a first sterilizer 63, a second sterilizer 64, and a second sterilizer 65. It is equipped with The foreign matter removal filter 61, the first sterilizer 62, the first sterilizer filter 63, the second sterilizer 64, and the second sterilizer filter 65 are arranged in this direction from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance direction of the contents. They are arranged in order. In this way, the sterilizer (in this case, the second sterilizer 64) is disposed downstream of the sterilizer filter (in this case, the first sterilizer filter 63), so that bacteria can pass through the sterilizer filter. Even if the bacteria passes through, a sterilizer can sterilize the bacteria. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2A3, the foreign matter removal filter 61, the first sterilizer 62, the second sterilizer 64, the first sterilizer filter 63, and the second sterilizer filter 65 move along the conveyance direction of the contents. , may be arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side. As shown in FIGS. 2A1 to 2A3, when the sterilizer 60 includes a plurality of sterilization filters (the first sterilization filter 63 and the second sterilization filter 65), one of the sterilization filters stops. However, the sterilization of the water can be guaranteed by the other sterilization filter. In addition, since the sterilizer 60 includes a plurality of sterilizers (the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64), even if one sterilizer stops, the other sterilizer can handle the contents. Can guarantee the sterility of items. Note that the foreign matter removal filter 61 and the first sterilization filter 63 are provided with a drain line 95c.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2A4, the sterilizer 60 may include a foreign matter removal filter 61, a first sterilizer 62, a first sterilizer filter 63, and a second sterilizer filter 65. The foreign matter removal filter 61, the first sterilizer 62, the first sterilization filter 63, and the second sterilization filter 65 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the content conveyance direction. Also good. In this case, the sterilizer 60 may further include a second sterilizer 64 provided between the first sterilizer filter 63 and the second sterilizer filter 65.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2A5, the sterilizer 60 may include a first sterilizer 62, a first sterilizer filter 63, and a second sterilizer filter 65. The first sterilizer 62, the first sterilization filter 63, and the second sterilization filter 65 may be arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the water transport direction. In this case, the sterilizer 60 may further include a second sterilizer 64 provided between the first sterilizer filter 63 and the second sterilizer filter 65. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2A6, the first sterilizing filter 63, the first sterilizer 62, the second sterilizing filter 65, and the second sterilizer 64 are arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance direction of the contents. They may be arranged in this order toward. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A7, the first sterilizer 62, the first sterilizer filter 63, the second sterilizer filter 65, and the second sterilizer 64 are arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance direction of the contents. They may be arranged in this order toward.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the sterilizer 60 may include a first sterilizer 62 and a first sterilization filter 63. The first sterilizer 62 and the first sterilization filter 63 may be arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction of the contents. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2C, the first sterilization filter 63 and the first sterilizer 62 may be arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance direction of the contents. In these cases, the sterilizer 60 may further include a second sterilizer 64 provided between the first sterilizing filter 63 and a valve V1 to be described later.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2D, the sterilizer 60 may include a first sterilizer 62, a second sterilizer 64, and a first sterilization filter 63. The first sterilizer 62, the second sterilizer 64, and the first sterilization filter 63 may be arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction of the contents. In this case, the sterilizer 60 may further include a second sterilization filter 65 provided downstream of the first sterilization filter 63. Further, a pre-stage sterilizer 62A is provided upstream of the first sterilizer 62.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2E, the sterilizer 60 may include a first sterilizer filter 63, a second sterilizer filter 65, and a first sterilizer 62. The first sterilizing filter 63, the second sterilizing filter 65, and the first sterilizer 62 may be arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the transport direction of the contents. In this case, the sterilizer 60 may further include a second sterilizer 64 provided downstream of the first sterilizer 62.

Additionally, the sterilizer 60 does not need to be equipped with a sterilization filter. That is, depending on the sterile quality level of the contents produced by diluting the product stock solution with water and/or the growth characteristics of bacteria in the contents, the sterilizer 60 may not need to be equipped with a sterilization filter. . In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 2F, the sterilizer 60 may include only the first sterilizer 62. Further, as shown in FIG. 2G, the sterilizer 60 may include a first sterilizer 62 and a second sterilizer 64. In this way, when the sterilizer 60 is not equipped with a sterile filter, the manufacturing cost of the sterilizer 60 can be reduced.

Furthermore, the sterilizer 60 does not need to be equipped with a sterilizer. That is, depending on the sterile quality level of the contents produced by diluting the product stock solution with water and/or the growth characteristics of bacteria in the contents, the sterilizer 60 may not be equipped with a sterilizer. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 2H, the sterilizer 60 may include only the first sterilization filter 63. Further, as shown in FIG. 2I, the sterilizer 60 may include a first sterilizing filter 63 and a second sterilizing filter 65. In this way, even when the sterilizer 60 is not equipped with a sterilizer, the manufacturing cost of the sterilizer 60 can be reduced.

Next, the foreign matter removal filter 61, first sterilizer 62, first sterilizer 63, second sterilizer 64, and second sterilizer 65 will be explained. In the following description, the sterilizer 60 shown in FIG. Explain. Here, first, the foreign matter removal filter 61 will be explained.

The foreign matter removal filter 61 is a filter that removes foreign matter from water. In the illustrated example, the sterilizer 60 includes a single foreign matter removal filter 61. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the sterilizer 60 may include a plurality of foreign matter removal filters 61. The opening (filtration accuracy) of this foreign matter removal filter 61 may be, for example, 0.20 μm or more and 10 μm or less, or 0.45 μm or more and 10 μm or less. Further, the opening of the foreign matter removal filter 61 is preferably large enough to remove fungi (mold, yeast, etc.). As will be described later, in the first sterilizer 62 and the like provided on the downstream side of the foreign matter removal filter 61, ultraviolet rays are irradiated onto the water. Therefore, the opening of the foreign matter removal filter 61 is preferably large enough to remove molds that are resistant to ultraviolet rays, and is preferably 0.45 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less. Note that in order to improve the sterility of the water that has passed through the foreign matter removal filter 61, the opening of the foreign matter removal filter 61 may be 0.2 μm or more and 1.0 μm or less. This allows almost all bacteria remaining in the water to be collected. Furthermore, in order to improve the sterility of the water that has passed through the foreign matter removal filter 61, a sterile grade filter with an opening of 0.1 μm or more and 0.22 μm or less may be used as the foreign matter removal filter 61.

The first sterilizer 62 is provided downstream of the foreign matter removal filter 61. Further, the first sterilizer 62 is provided upstream of the first sterilizing filter 63. The first sterilizer 62 is a sterilizer that sterilizes the raw materials to be mixed using ultraviolet rays. Thereby, bacteria (bacteria other than mold and yeast) that have passed through the foreign matter removal filter 61 can be sterilized. Furthermore, when the first sterilizer 62 sterilizes the raw materials to be mixed with ultraviolet rays, the content filling system emits less carbon dioxide than when the raw materials to be mixed are sterilized by heating the raw materials to be mixed. The amount can be reduced. In particular, as mentioned above, when producing the contents, the product raw material can be diluted with water from 1.1 times to 100 times, preferably from 2 times to 10 times. When the product raw material is diluted with water to 2 times or more and 10 times or less, 50% or more and 90% or less of the content is water. Therefore, by sterilizing the water-containing raw materials to be mixed without heating, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted when producing the contents.

By the way, when the bacterial count concentration supplied from the pure water production device 50c is high (for example, 1 CFU/ml or more), and when the foreign matter removal filter 61 has a pore size of a sterilization filter (0.1 to 1 μm), The foreign matter removal filter 61 becomes contaminated with bacteria in a short period of time. If a large amount of bacteria is captured by the foreign matter removal filter 61 and the bacteria multiply, the quality of the water may be affected. Therefore, it is preferable to install the first sterilizer 62 also on the upstream side of the foreign matter removal filter 61 (see 62A in FIG. 2B). It becomes possible to produce high-quality sterile water for a long period of time.

As described above, in this embodiment, the first sterilizer 62 sterilizes water with ultraviolet rays. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first sterilizer 62 may include a main body 66 and an ultraviolet irradiator 67 provided within the main body 66.

Of these, the main body portion 66 is formed in a hollow shape. Further, the shape of the main body portion 66 is a truncated cone shape. Specifically, the main body portion 66 has a truncated conical inner surface, and is oriented such that the end on the small diameter side is located above the end on the large diameter side. An introduction part 68 for introducing the raw materials to be mixed into the interior of the main body part 66 is formed in the lower part of the main body part 66, and a discharge part 69 for discharging the sterilized raw materials to be mixed from the main part 66 is formed in the upper part of the main part 66. may be formed. An introduction pipe 68a may be connected to the introduction part 68 formed in the main body part 66, and the introduction pipe 68a may be provided so as to extend in the tangential direction of the inner surface of the main body part 66 when viewed from above. good. In this case, the tangential direction of the inner surface refers to the portion of the tangent to the circle formed by the inner surface of the main body section 66 in the horizontal section including the introduction section 68, where the raw materials to be mixed to be introduced collide with the inner surface of the main body section 66. is the tangential direction at .

The raw materials to be mixed introduced into the main body part 66 through the introduction part 68 are guided along the inner surface of the main body part 66, thereby turning in the circumferential direction. Then, the raw materials to be mixed move upward while rotating and are discharged from the discharge section 69. Thereby, it is possible to suppress uneven flow of the raw materials to be mixed introduced into the main body portion 66. Therefore, it is possible to prevent part of the raw materials to be mixed introduced into the main body part 66 from being discharged from the discharge part 69 in a short period of time (so-called short path).

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, a baffle plate 66a may be provided within the main body portion 66 to regulate the flow of the raw materials to be mixed. This baffle plate 66a may protrude in the radial direction from the inner surface of the main body portion 66 so as to spirally circulate. By providing such a baffle plate 66a in the main body 66, it is possible to prevent the raw materials to be mixed introduced into the main body 66 through the introduction part 68 from moving upward without turning in the circumferential direction. It can be suppressed. Therefore, so-called short passes can be more reliably prevented. Although not shown, the baffle plate 66a does not have to spiral in the main body 66. In this case, for example, a plurality of baffle plates 66a each having an annular shape in plan view may be provided in the main body 66, and are configured so that water passes through a central opening. Also good.

Furthermore, a fixing member 66b for fixing a first ultraviolet lamp 67a and a second ultraviolet lamp 67b, which will be described later, of the ultraviolet irradiation section 67 may be provided within the main body 66. The shape of the fixing member 66b may be, for example, a cross shape in plan view. Thereby, upward movement of water can be prevented from being obstructed by the fixing member 66b. Alternatively, the shape of the fixing member 66b may be, for example, a disk shape or a circular shape in a plan view. In this case, a through hole (not shown) may be formed in the fixing member 66b, and the raw material to be mixed may be configured to pass through the through hole.

Incidentally, an illuminance meter that measures the illuminance of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet ray irradiation section 67 may be installed in the main body part 66. Further, an output meter may be installed to measure the output of a first ultraviolet lamp 67a and a second ultraviolet lamp 67b, which will be described later, of the ultraviolet irradiation unit 67. Further, the time (residence time) during which the raw materials to be mixed pass through the interior of the main body portion 66 may be constantly monitored by the flowmeter F described above. Furthermore, the temperature, turbidity, and/or chromaticity of the raw materials to be mixed passing through the main body 66 may be constantly or appropriately measured to confirm that there is no abnormality in the amount of ultraviolet ray irradiation and/or the transmittance.

Sterilization of raw materials to be mixed is guaranteed by constantly monitoring the readings on the illumination meter. If the illuminance rises or falls from the set value, it is a good idea to automatically adjust the ultraviolet light output to bring it closer to the set value. Furthermore, in order to vary the liquid feeding flow rate, the frequency of the pump P1 may be varied to bring the illuminance closer to the set value. Regarding illuminance, only a lower limit value may be provided without providing an upper limit value. Furthermore, in the event that the illuminance during liquid feeding falls below the lower limit value, the flow of the raw materials to be mixed is immediately switched to the circulation line 59 to maintain sterility from the tank (aseptic tank) 52 onwards. Thereafter, the sterilizer 60 may be cleaned and sterilized, or only sterilized, and production may be resumed.

Next, the ultraviolet irradiation section 67 will be explained. The ultraviolet irradiation section 67 may include a first ultraviolet lamp 67a provided at the radial center of the main body 66, and a plurality of second ultraviolet lamps 67b provided around the first ultraviolet lamp 67a. In the illustrated example, four second ultraviolet lamps 67b are provided around one first ultraviolet lamp 67a.

Each second ultraviolet lamp 67b is arranged along the inner surface of the main body part 66. That is, each second ultraviolet lamp 67b is provided so as to be inclined radially inward as it goes upward. In this case, the second ultraviolet lamps 67b are preferably arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. Thereby, it is possible to suppress variations in the cumulative irradiation amount (mJ/cm ² ) of ultraviolet rays. The first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b may each be an ultraviolet lamp that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm or more and 450 nm or less.

The first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b may be a low-pressure mercury lamp, a medium-pressure mercury lamp, or a UV-LED, respectively. In this case, the first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b are preferably low-pressure mercury lamps or medium-pressure mercury lamps, respectively. A low-pressure mercury lamp is a mercury lamp in which the mercury vapor pressure during lighting is less than 10 Pa. This low-pressure mercury lamp can efficiently irradiate ultraviolet rays with a wavelength (253.7 nm) that is highly effective in sterilizing. Therefore, when the first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b are each low-pressure mercury lamps, the sterilization effects in the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 can be improved. The low-pressure mercury lamp may be an amalgam lamp (low-pressure high-output amalgam lamp) in which amalgam, which is an alloy of mercury and other metals, is sealed in an arc tube.

A medium pressure mercury lamp is a mercury lamp with a mercury vapor pressure of 40 kPa or more during lighting. Generally, medium-pressure mercury lamps are high-power mercury lamps compared to low-pressure mercury lamps. Therefore, when the first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b are medium pressure mercury lamps, the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 can sterilize a large amount of water. Further, since the medium pressure mercury lamp is a high output mercury lamp, if the first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b are medium pressure mercury lamps, the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 Miniaturization can be achieved.

Here, the bactericidal effect of ultraviolet rays changes depending on the cumulative irradiation amount (mJ/cm ² ) of ultraviolet rays. That is, the greater the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays, the more effective the bacteria sterilization effect of ultraviolet rays becomes. This cumulative irradiation amount is determined by the product of illuminance (mW/cm ² ) and irradiation time (sec). Therefore, in order to enhance the effect of sterilizing bacteria with ultraviolet rays, the distance between the light sources (first ultraviolet lamp 67a and second ultraviolet lamp 67b) and the raw materials to be mixed is shortened, and the irradiation time of ultraviolet rays is lengthened. That is required. In particular, the illuminance is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the light source emitting ultraviolet light. For example, when the distance from the light source doubles, the illuminance becomes 1/4, and when the distance from the light source triples, the illuminance becomes 1/9. Therefore, by allowing water to pass near the light source, the bacteria sterilization effect of ultraviolet rays can be enhanced.

As described above, in this embodiment, the introduction part 68 for introducing the raw materials to be mixed into the interior of the main body part 66 is formed in the lower part of the main body part 66, and the sterilized raw materials to be mixed are formed in the upper part of the main body part 66. A discharge portion 69 is formed to discharge the water from the main body portion 66. Thereby, a short pass can be prevented, and the time during which the raw materials to be mixed can stay inside the main body part 66 can be extended. For this reason, the irradiation time of ultraviolet rays to the raw materials to be mixed can be lengthened, and the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays can be increased. Furthermore, by introducing the raw materials to be mixed from the lower part of the main body part 66, even if the water is in the initial stage of operation of the first sterilizer 62, that is, the raw materials to be mixed are introduced into the empty main body part 66, the raw materials to be mixed can be mixed. Sufficient time for the target raw material to stay inside the main body portion 66 can be ensured. Therefore, the irradiation time of ultraviolet rays to water can be increased.

Further, the shape of the main body portion 66 is a truncated cone shape. Thereby, the distance between the first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b and the raw materials to be mixed can be shortened in the upper part of the main body part 66. Therefore, the bactericidal effect of ultraviolet rays can be enhanced. Further, the ultraviolet irradiation section 67 includes a first ultraviolet lamp 67a provided at the radial center of the main body 66, and a plurality of second ultraviolet lamps 67b provided around the first ultraviolet lamp 67a. Thereby, the raw materials to be mixed that move upward while rotating in the circumferential direction can be evenly irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays.

Here, the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays to water is preferably 10 mJ/cm ² or more and 10000 mJ/cm ² or less, and more preferably 100 mJ/cm ² or more and 1000 mJ/cm ^{2 or} less. That is, when passing through the main body portion 66, the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays to the contents is preferably 10 mJ/cm ² or more and 10000 mJ/cm ² or less at a wavelength of 254 nm, and 100 mJ/cm ² or more and 1000 mJ/cm ^{2 or} less. It is more preferable that it is below. More preferably, it is 130 mJ/cm ² or more and 500 mJ/cm ² or less. Since the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays is 10 mJ/ ^cm2 or more, aquatic bacteria (such as Pseudomonas or Methylobacterium that can grow in water in an oligotrophic environment) that may pass through the second sterilization filter 65. Can effectively sterilize negative bacteria). Furthermore, bacterial spores can also be sterilized by setting the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays to 100 mJ/cm ² or more. Moreover, since the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays is 10,000 mJ/cm ² or less, electricity consumption can be reduced, and the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the content filling system 10 can be reduced. Here, the wavelength of the ultraviolet rays may be 250 nm or more and 260 nm or less, and may be 253.7 nm (254 nm) as an example. When the wavelength of the ultraviolet rays is 250 nm or more and 260 nm or less, especially 253.7 nm, the effect of sterilizing bacteria by the ultraviolet rays can be enhanced. Here, in this specification, "aquatic bacteria" means bacteria that can pass through a sterilization filter with an opening of 0.2 μm, and can also be referred to as "bacteria that pass through a sterilization filter" hereinafter. Further, the amount of ultraviolet rays emitted by the ultraviolet irradiator 67 may be set based on the RED (Reduction Equivalent UV Dose) determined by an actual chemical dosimeter or biological dosimeter. For details, refer to "ULTRAVIOLET DISINFECTION GUIDANCE MANUAL FOR THE FINAL LONG TERM 2 ENHANCED SURFACE WATER TREATMENT RULE, United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 815-R-06-007, November 2006."

It is preferable that such a first sterilizer 62 is capable of sterilization (SIP). Thereby, the first sterilizer 62 can be regularly sterilized. In addition, when sterilizing the first sterilizer 62, the control unit 90 described above may sterilize the first sterilizer 62 with steam or hot water. Alternatively, if the first sterilizer 62 is sensitive to heat, the control unit 90 sterilizes the first sterilizer 62 by circulating a sterilizer containing peracetic acid, for example, in the circulation system 59A including the sterilizer 60. You may do so. In this case, the control unit 90 may circulate the disinfectant in the circulation system 59A for at least 10 seconds or more and 60 minutes or less.

Note that, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the main body portion 66 of the first sterilizer 62 may have a cylindrical shape. In this case, a discharge pipe 69a may be connected to the discharge part 69 formed in the main body part 66, and the discharge pipe 69a is provided so as to extend in the tangential direction of the inner surface of the main body part 66 in a plan view. You can leave it there. In this case, the tangential direction of the inner surface refers to the tangential direction of the circle formed by the inner surface of the main body section 66 in the horizontal cross section including the discharge section 69. This is the tangential direction that points away from . When the main body part 66 has a cylindrical shape, the time during which the raw materials to be mixed stay inside the main body part 66 can be increased. For this reason, the irradiation time of ultraviolet rays to the raw materials to be mixed can be lengthened, and the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays can be increased. In this case, although not shown, the plurality of second ultraviolet lamps 67b may be provided so as to be inclined radially inward toward the top.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the main body 66 has a cylindrical shape, and an introduction part 68 for introducing the raw materials to be mixed into the main body 66 is provided at one end of the main body 66. It may be formed. Further, a discharge portion 69 for discharging the sterilized raw materials to be mixed from the body portion 66 may be formed at the other end of the body portion 66 . In this case, the main body 66 may be arranged such that the longitudinal direction (the direction in which water travels) of the main body 66 is the horizontal direction, and the longitudinal direction (the direction in which water travels) of the main body 66 is the vertical direction. The main body portion 66 may be arranged as shown in FIG.

In this modification, the ultraviolet irradiation section 67 may include a plurality of third ultraviolet lamps 67c arranged along the traveling direction of the raw materials to be mixed. This allows water to be evenly irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is possible to suppress variations in the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays.

Further, the third ultraviolet lamps 67c that are adjacent to each other in the direction of movement of the raw materials to be mixed may extend in different directions from each other when viewed from the direction of movement of the raw materials to be mixed. Thereby, it is possible to more effectively suppress variations in the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays. In the illustrated example, each third ultraviolet lamp 67c is regularly arranged. That is, each third ultraviolet lamp 67c, when viewed from the upstream side in the traveling direction of the raw materials to be mixed (left side in FIG. 6B), moves toward the downstream side in the traveling direction of the raw materials to be mixed (right side in FIG. 6B), It rotates clockwise by 45 degrees around the central axis X of the main body part 66. Note that each of the third ultraviolet lamps 67c may be arranged irregularly.

The third ultraviolet lamp 67c may be the same ultraviolet lamp as the first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b. That is, the third ultraviolet lamp 67c may be an ultraviolet lamp that emits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 200 nm or more and 450 nm or less. Furthermore, the third ultraviolet lamp 67c may be a low-pressure mercury lamp (including a low-pressure high-output amalgam lamp) or a medium-pressure mercury lamp. Although not shown, a baffle plate 66a may be provided inside the main body 66 to regulate the flow of water.

Furthermore, in the first sterilizer 62 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6B, ultraviolet rays may be reflected within the main body 66 in order to increase the sterilization efficiency in the first sterilizer 62. For example, taking the first sterilizer 62 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B as an example, as shown in FIG. 6C, the main body 66 includes an outer member 660 and an inner member 661 provided inside the outer member 660. May contain. Outer member 660 may be constructed from polished stainless steel tubing, for example. The inner member 661 may be made of a glass tube. Further, an air layer 662 may be interposed between the outer member 660 and the inner member 661. In this case, if glass with high ultraviolet transmittance (for example, quartz glass or fluoride glass) is used as the glass of the glass tube of the inner member 661, as shown in FIG. 6C, the inner member 661 and the air layer 662 At the interface, ultraviolet light (UV) can be reflected. Note that as the material of the inner member 661, a material having a high transmittance of ultraviolet rays may be appropriately selected according to the wavelength of the ultraviolet rays irradiated by the third ultraviolet lamp 67c and the like. Further, as the material of the inner member 661, a material other than glass may be used, and for example, plastic having properties similar to glass may be used. Furthermore, the inner surface of the outer member 660 and/or the outer surface of the inner member 661 may be coated with a highly reflective material. In particular, when the main body part 66 is elongated like the first sterilizer 62 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the attenuation of ultraviolet rays can be suppressed by coating the inner surface of the outer member 660 with a material having a high reflectance. At the same time, it can repeatedly reflect ultraviolet rays. Therefore, water can be efficiently sterilized. Note that it is preferable that the ultraviolet rays UV be reflected one or more times inside the main body portion 66. In this case, it is more preferable that the number of times the ultraviolet rays are reflected is two or more by shortening the distance between the outer member 660 etc. and the third ultraviolet lamp 67c etc. Here, the ultraviolet rays emitted from a medium-pressure mercury lamp can maintain illuminance over a longer distance than the ultraviolet rays emitted from a low-pressure mercury lamp. Therefore, if the third ultraviolet lamp 67c or the like is a medium-pressure mercury lamp, even if the ultraviolet rays are reflected multiple times inside the main body 66, the sterilizing effect of the ultraviolet rays will be reduced. can be suppressed.

Further, the passage time for water to pass through the first sterilizer 62 may be 0.1 seconds or more and less than 10 seconds, and preferably 0.5 seconds or more and less than 5 seconds. Note that the passage time is the time required for water introduced into the main body part 66 from the introduction part 68 to be discharged from the discharge part 69. By setting the passage time to 0.1 seconds or more, it is possible to suppress variations in the sterilizing effect of water. Therefore, a sufficient sterilizing effect can be obtained. Since the passing time is less than 10 seconds, the first sterilizer 62 can be made smaller. Note that the passage time for water to pass through the first sterilizer 62 may be changed as appropriate based on the flow rate of the water that the first sterilizer 62 processes (sterilizes).

Referring again to FIG. 2A1, the first sterilization filter 63 is provided downstream of the first sterilizer 62. This first sterilization filter 63 is a micro-filtration filter (MF) that sterilizes the raw materials to be mixed by collecting bacteria remaining in the raw materials to be mixed. The opening may be 0.1 μm or more and 0.45 μm or less, and preferably 0.1 μm or more and 0.22 μm or less. By having the opening of the first sterilizing filter 63 be 0.1 μm or more, In addition, since the opening of the first sterilization filter 63 is 0.45 μm or less, the first sterilization filter 63 effectively removes bacteria remaining in the raw materials to be mixed. A filter with an opening of 0.02 μm or more and 0.1 μm or less, which can also remove some viruses, may be used as the sterile filter 63. Also, the filtration membrane of the first sterilization filter 63 (Membrane) materials include polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethersulfone (PES), mixed cellulose (SCWP), polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyamide, etc. Depending on the suitability of the contents. For example, it may be a reverse osmosis membrane (RO (Reverse Osmosis) membrane) or an ultra-filtration membrane (UF (Ultra-Filtration) membrane).

It is preferable that this first sterilization filter 63 is capable of sterilization (SIP). Thereby, the first sterilization filter 63 can be regularly sterilized. Here, as described above, the first sterilizing filter 63 passes through the first sterilizer 62 and collects bacteria remaining in the raw materials to be mixed. Therefore, if water sterilization is continued for a long period of time in the sterilizer 60, the collected bacteria may propagate within the first sterilization filter 63. Furthermore, if dead bacteria, which is an organic matter, is attached to the first sterilization filter 63 or the like, the dead bacteria may become a substrate. In this case, bacteria may further propagate within the first sterilization filter 63. In this way, if the germs multiply within the first sterilizing filter 63, there is a possibility that they will enter the raw material to be mixed that passes through the first sterilizing filter 63. On the other hand, since the first sterilizing filter 63 can be sterilized, it is possible to prevent bacteria attached to the first sterilizing filter 63 from entering the raw materials to be mixed that pass through the first sterilizing filter 63. . As a result, it is possible to suppress the filtration performance of the first sterilization filter 63 from decreasing. Note that when sterilizing the first sterilizing filter 63, sterilizing steam or the like may be supplied to the first sterilizing filter 63 from a sterile air supply port 60a, which will be described later.

Here, the degree of sterilization of the first sterilization filter 63 may be managed by the F value. In other words, when sterilizing the sterilizer 60 having the first sterilizing filter 63, the degree of sterilization of the sterilizer 60 may be managed by the F value. At this time, for example, the control unit 90 measures the temperature of the heated steam (fluid) or hot water (fluid) flowing through the flow path of the first sterilization filter 63, and also measures the F value based on the measured temperature. may also be calculated. Then, when the F value becomes equal to or greater than the target value, the control unit 90 may end the sterilization of the first sterilization filter 63. When measuring the temperature of heated steam or hot water, the control unit 90 flows heated steam or hot water through the flow path of the first sterilization filter 63, and is arranged at various locations in the flow path where the temperature is unlikely to rise. The temperature may be measured using a temperature sensor. Then, the control unit 90 may terminate the heating of the flow path using heating steam or the like when the time during which the temperature from each temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. Thereby, the first sterilizing filter 63 can be sterilized without applying more heat than necessary to the first sterilizing filter 63. Here, the F value is the heating time required to kill all bacteria when bacteria are heated for a certain period of time, and is expressed as the time required to kill bacteria at 121.1°C, and is calculated by the following formula. .

(However, T is the arbitrary sterilization temperature (℃), 10^{(T-Tr)/Z} is the lethality rate at the arbitrary sterilization temperature T, Tr is the reference temperature (℃), and Z is the Z value (℃) )
Further, it is preferable that the first sterilizing filter 63 is capable of performing an integrity test on the opening of the first sterilizing filter 63, which will be described later. Here, the integrity test can be performed as follows. For example, first, a housing (not shown) in the first sterilizing filter 63 is filled with water. Next, sterile air is injected into the first sterilizing filter 63 filled with water, for example, from the sterile air supply port 60a. Next, the pressure of the sterile air is increased until the sterile air is released from the first sterilizing filter 63. Then, the size of the opening of the first sterilizing filter 63 is determined based on the pressure (bubble point) of the sterile air when the sterile air leaves the first sterilizing filter 63 . In this way, since the first sterilizing filter 63 can perform the integrity test on the opening of the first sterilizing filter 63, the degree of deterioration of the first sterilizing filter 63 can be easily determined. In addition, in order to measure the pressure inside the first sterilization filter 63, a pressure gauge P2 may be provided near the sterile air supply port 60a. In addition to the above-mentioned bubble point test, the integrity test may be performed by a diffusion flow test, a pressure hold test, or the like.

The second sterilizer 64 is provided downstream of the first sterilization filter 63. The configuration of the second sterilizer 64 may be substantially the same as the first sterilizer 62 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6B. That is, the second sterilizer 64 may be a sterilizer that sterilizes water with ultraviolet rays.

The second sterilization filter 65 is provided downstream of the second sterilizer 64. This second sterilization filter 65 is a filter that sterilizes the raw materials to be mixed by passing through the second sterilizer 64 and collecting bacteria remaining in the raw materials to be mixed. The opening of the second sterilizing filter 65 is preferably equal to or less than the opening of the first sterilizing filter 63. Thereby, even if bacteria in the raw materials to be mixed pass through the first sterilization filter 63, the second sterilization filter 65 can collect the bacteria. Therefore, the sterility of the raw materials to be mixed can be sufficiently ensured. In addition, when the opening of the second sterilizing filter 65 is equivalent to the opening of the first sterilizing filter 63, the sterilizing set consisting of the sterilizer and the sterilizing filter is moved in the direction of conveyance of the raw materials to be mixed. Two sets can be placed along the line. That is, a first sterilization set constituted by the first sterilizer 62 and the first sterilization filter 63, and a second sterilization set constituted by the second sterilizer 64 and the second sterilization filter 65. , can be arranged in series along the conveyance direction of the raw materials to be mixed. Therefore, even if some abnormality occurs in one of the sterilization sets, the sterility of the raw materials to be mixed can be guaranteed. Note that a plurality of sterilization sets may be provided depending on the sterility assurance level (SAL) of the raw materials to be mixed or the final product (contents) (Fig. 2A1, Fig. 2A2, Fig. 2A4 to Fig. 2A4). (See Figure A7). Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2B etc., the number of sterilization sets may be one, and although not shown, the number of sterilization sets may be three or more.

The opening of the second sterilizing filter 65 may be 0.1 μm or more and 0.45 μm or less, and preferably 0.1 μm or more and 0.22 μm or less. By setting the opening of the second sterilization filter 65 to 0.1 μm or more, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the sterilization efficiency of the raw materials to be mixed. Further, since the opening of the second sterilizing filter 65 is 0.45 μm or less, the second sterilizing filter 65 can more effectively collect bacteria remaining in the raw materials to be mixed. The filtration membrane of the second sterilization filter 65 may be, for example, a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane or an ultra-filtration (UF) membrane.

Other configurations of the second sterilizing filter 65 may be substantially the same as those of the first sterilizing filter 63. That is, the second sterilization filter 65 may be sterilized (SIP). Further, the second sterilizing filter 65 may be capable of performing an integrity test on the opening of the second sterilizing filter 65.

Here, in the sterilizer 60, the sterilization strength of the water may be adjusted based on the target value of the bacterial count level (FSO (Food Safety Objective/ISO13409-1996) (=logN)).

In this case, for example, the initial bacterial count level in the raw materials to be mixed before entering the filter (for example, the first sterilization filter 63) is set as H ₀ (=logN ₀ ). In this case, the initial bacteria count level H ₀ of the filter is the sterilization effect by the filter (for example, the first sterilization filter 63) (level of decrease in the number of bacteria in water: ΣR ₁ (=log(N ₀ /NR ₁ )> 0). Note that "N ₀ " means the initial number of bacteria in the water, and "NR ₁ " means the number of bacteria to be mixed after being sterilized by a filter (for example, the first sterilization filter 63). It means the number of bacteria in the raw material.

On the other hand, it is possible that the bacteria in the raw materials to be mixed increase at a certain rate while passing through the filter (level of increase in the number of bacteria in the raw materials to be mixed: ΣI (=log(N _I ) ≧ 0) ). Note that "N _I " means the number of bacteria that increased while passing through the filter.

In addition, the bacteria in the raw materials to be mixed are sterilized by the sterilizer (for example, the second sterilizer 64) (level of reduction in the number of bacteria in the raw materials to be mixed: ΣR ₂ (=log(N _I /NR ₂ )>0) ) decreases again. If the bacterial count level in the raw material to be mixed after passing through the sterilizer 60 is below the target value (FSO (Food Safety Objective/ISO13409-1996) (=logN)), the raw material to be mixed has been sterilized by the sterilization line 50. It can be considered that there is no problem with the sterility of the raw materials to be mixed. Note that " _NR2 " means the number of bacteria in the raw material to be mixed after being sterilized by a sterilizer (for example, the second sterilizer 64), and "N" means the number of bacteria in the raw material to be mixed after being sterilized by the sterilizer (for example, the second sterilizer 64). 64) refers to the target value of the number of bacteria in the raw materials to be mixed after being sterilized.

The above-mentioned relationship among H ₀ , ΣR ₁ , ΣI, ΣR ₂ and FSO is expressed as the following equation.

H _{0 −ΣR 1} +ΣI−ΣR ₂ ≦FSO (Formula ₁ ) Therefore, the sterilizer (for example, the second _sterilizer ) is By setting the sterilization capacity of the machine 64), it is possible to keep the sterility of the raw materials to be mixed below the target value (FSO).

Additionally, sampling points SP1 to SP6 (for aseptically sampling the raw materials to be mixed) are located at the inlet of the sterilizer 60, the outlet of the sterilizer 60, and between the foreign matter removal filter 61 and the first sterilizer 62, etc. SP) may be provided. Further, a sampling line SL may be connected to at least some of the sampling points SP1 to SP6 via a valve (not shown). Thereby, the number of bacteria in the water can be easily measured by sampling the water aseptically from the sampling points SP1 to SP6 or the sampling line SL. Note that the sampling line SL may be provided with a thermometer T, and when the first sterilization filter 63 and the second sterilization filter 65 are sterilized with steam, the temperature of the steam is monitored by the thermometer T. You may do so. Furthermore, when measuring the number of bacteria in the raw material to be mixed and/or confirming a change in state such as proliferation of bacteria, for example, the liquid may be sampled and the number of bacteria may be counted using a plate medium. For example, the number of bacteria and/or changes in the state of bacteria in the raw materials to be mixed can be measured using a microbial measuring device (for example, Real-time Microbial Detector, IMD-W (registered trademark) manufactured by Azbil Corporation) or a particulate measuring device (in-liquid It may be measured and/or confirmed using a particle counter) or the like.

The processing capacity of such a sterilizer 60 is preferably 105% or more of the maximum processing capacity required when producing the product bottles 101, and preferably 110% of the maximum processing capacity required when producing the product bottles 101. It is more preferable that it is above. For example, the processing capacity of the sterilizer 60 may be 5 m ³ /h or more and 50 m ³ /h or less, and may be 24 m ³ /h as an example. Further, when the processing capacity of the sterilizer 60 is 105% or more of the maximum processing capacity required when producing the product bottle 101, a predetermined amount of water is stored in the tank 52 when producing the product bottle 101. You can also do that. In this case, by appropriately designing the volume of the tank 52, even during sterilization (SIP) or integrity testing of the first sterilization filter 63, etc., the product bottle 101 can be used without causing a shortage of raw materials to be mixed. production, and sterilization (SIP) or integrity testing of the first sterilization filter 63 and the like. Note that the time required for sterilization (SIP) of the first sterilization filter 63 and the like and the time required for the integrity test are approximately 30 minutes or more and approximately 1 hour or less, respectively. Therefore, the volume of the tank 52 may be set to be greater than or equal to the amount of raw materials to be mixed that are used in the content filling system 10 when producing the product bottle 101 for one hour.

Additionally, the processing capacity of the sterilizer 60 may be controlled by the control unit 90. For example, the control unit 90 determines the amount of water to be used for cleaning and sterilizing the content filling system 10, and also controls the sterilizer of the raw material sterilization line 50 based on the determined amount of raw materials to be mixed. 60 may determine the amount of raw materials to be mixed to be sterilized during production of the product bottle 101. Here, the amount of sterile water required for cleaning and/or sterilizing the inside of each chamber after producing the product bottle 101 can be determined for each chamber. Therefore, the processing capacity of the sterilizer 60 may be controlled by the control unit 90 so that sterile water to be used after producing the product bottles 101 can be stored while producing one lot of the product bottles 101. Thereby, after producing the product bottle 101, the inside of each chamber etc. can be immediately cleaned and/or sterilized. Therefore, downtime can be reduced.

Such a sterilizer 60 fills the bottles 100 with contents in the content filling system 10, thereby sterilizing the raw materials to be mixed without stopping the sterilization of the raw materials to be mixed while producing the product bottles 101. It is preferable to continue sterilizing. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the proliferation of bacteria within the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65. That is, when the flow of the raw materials to be mixed stops in the sterilizer 60, bacteria may grow in the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65. On the other hand, while producing the product bottle 101 in the content filling system 10, by continuing to sterilize the raw materials to be mixed without stopping the pump P1, the inside of the first sterilization filter 63 and the second Propagation of bacteria within the bacteria filter 65 can be suppressed. Note that when the tank 52 becomes full of water while producing the product bottle 101 in the content filling system 10, the sterilized raw materials to be mixed are circulated in the circulation system 59A (see FIG. 2A, etc.). It's okay. Thereby, even when the tank 52 becomes full of water, it is possible to suppress the flow of the raw materials to be mixed from stopping within the sterilizer 60. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the proliferation of bacteria within the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65. Note that when the circulation time of the sterilized raw materials to be mixed becomes long, the temperature of the sterilized raw materials to be mixed may rise due to the irradiation energy of the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation unit 67. In this case, the raw materials to be mixed flowing through the circulation line 59 may be discharged from the circulation line 59 without being returned to the mixing tank 51. Then, by supplying new pure water from the pure water production device 50c to the mixing tank 51 via the water tank 50a, the rise in temperature of the circulating raw materials to be mixed may be suppressed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2J, the raw material sterilization line 50 to be mixed is divided into a non-sterile zone Z1, a first gray zone Z2, a second gray zone Z3, and a sterile zone Z4. The non-sterile zone Z1, the first gray zone Z2, the second gray zone Z3, and the sterile zone Z4 are provided in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the content transport direction.

Of these, the non-sterile zone Z1 is a zone under a non-sterile atmosphere, and is a zone where bacteria may exist. In the illustrated example, the non-sterile zone Z1 is an area upstream of the pre-sterilizer 62A. In the non-sterile zone Z1, the mixing tank 51 and the flow path downstream of the mixing tank 51 are sterilized before manufacturing the product bottle 101. On the other hand, after the production of the product bottle 101 is started, bacteria may be brought in from the upstream side of the mixing tank 51, so that the mixing tank 51 and the like may be contaminated with bacteria.

The first gray zone Z2 and the second gray zone Z3 are zones for separating a non-sterile atmosphere and a sterile atmosphere, respectively. Among these, the first gray zone Z2 is a zone where bacteria passing through the sterilization filter are sterilized. The second gray zone Z3 is a zone in which no bacteria passing through the sterilization filter is maintained during production of the product bottle 101. In the illustrated example, the first gray zone Z2 is an area from the front sterilizer 62A to the outlet of the second sterilizer 64. Further, the second gray zone Z3 is an area from the outlet of the second sterilizer 64 to the inlet of the first sterile filter 63. Here, the pure water production device 50c that supplies water to the raw material sterilization line 50 to be mixed is sterilized (SIP) before sterilizing water to the raw material sterilization line 50 to be mixed. At this time, sterilization is performed under conditions that can kill at least bacteria that pass through the sterilization filter. The temperature of steam or hot water used for sterilization and the sterilization time may be at least 60° C. and 5 minutes or more, preferably 85° C. and 30 minutes or more. The temperature and sterilization time of steam or hot water used for sterilization may be 90° C. and 3 minutes, which are conditions equivalent to a sterilization value of Z=5° C. Furthermore, the sterilization conditions may be high temperature and short time conditions such as the temperature of steam or hot water used for sterilization and the sterilization time of 95° C. and 0.3 minutes. On the other hand, the bactericidal activity under these sterilizing conditions generally does not kill bacterial spores. Therefore, bacterial spores may exist in the area up to this side of the first sterile filter 63. Therefore, the area from the front sterilizer 62A to just before the first sterile filter 63 is called a gray zone. After the pure water production device 50c is sterilized, the second gray zone Z3 is maintained in a positive pressure state by continuously supplying water to the second gray zone Z3. As a result, in the second gray zone Z3, a state in which no bacteria pass through the sterilization filter is maintained. Note that the positive pressure state of the second gray zone Z3 is managed by a pressure gauge (not shown). The method of sterilizing bacteria that passes through the sterilizing filter is not limited to steam or hot water. A drug or the like that inactivates bacteria passing through the sterilization filter may also be used.

Aseptic zone Z4 is a zone under an aseptic atmosphere. That is, the sterile zone Z4 is a zone maintained in a sterile state. In the illustrated example, the sterile zone Z4 is a region downstream of the first sterile filter 63. In sterile zone Z4, all bacteria including bacterial spores are sterilized by sterilizing each device with steam or hot water (SIP/F ₀ ≥ 3, Z = 10°C), and then sterile air or sterile water is added. is supplied. SIP of the sterile zone Z4 is performed at least up to the interface with the second gray zone Z3. When sterilizing the sterile zone Z4, the piping of the second gray zone Z3 may also be SIPed together with the sterile zone Z4. Thereby, the sterile zone Z4 is maintained in a positive pressure state, and the sterile zone Z4 is maintained in a sterile state.

Among these non-sterile zone Z1, first gray zone Z2, second gray zone Z3, and sterile zone Z4, the contents can be irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the first gray zone Z2. In the first gray zone Z2, the cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays applied to water by the first stage sterilizer 62A may be at least 10 mJ/cm ² or more, and preferably 100 mJ/cm ² or more. In this case, the pre-sterilizer 62A may include a low-pressure mercury lamp. Further, in the first gray zone Z2, the total cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays to water by the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 may be 100 mJ/cm ² or more. In this way, since the total cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays to the water by the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 is 100 mJ/cm ² or more, it is possible to sterilize bacteria that pass through the sterilizing filter in the first gray zone Z2. . Therefore, the sterility of the water in the second gray zone Z3 can be guaranteed. In this case, the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 may each include a medium pressure mercury lamp.

In the first gray zone Z2, if the total cumulative irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays to the contents by the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 is less than 100 mJ/cm2, the contents before being supplied to the first removal filter 63 may be circulated by a circulation line 95. This can prevent contents in which bacteria passing through the sterilization filter may exist from being supplied to the first sterilization filter 63 . Therefore, the sterility of the contents in the sterile zone Z4 can be guaranteed. In this case, before supplying the contents to the sterile zone Z4 (first sterilization filter 63), the front sterilizer 62A, the foreign matter removal filter 61, the first sterilizer 62, and the second sterilizer 64 are sterilized (SIP). ) may be done.

Further, in at least one of the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65, the test result of the integrity test before and after production (first integrity test and second integrity test) described below is passed. It is preferable. As a result, at least one of the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65 can filter and sterilize bacteria other than those passing through the sterilizing filter. Therefore, the sterility of the contents in the sterile zone Z4 can be guaranteed. In addition, if the integrity test results before and after production of the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65 fail, the foreign matter removing filter 61 may be a filter with an opening of, for example, 0.1 μm or more and 0.22 μm or less. Certain sterile grade filters may be used. In this case, it is preferable that the foreign matter removal filter 61 pass the integrity test results before and after production. Thereby, the foreign matter removal filter 61 can filter and sterilize bacteria other than bacteria that have passed through the sterilization filter, and the sterility of the contents in the sterile zone Z4 can be guaranteed.

As described above, in the sterilizer 60 of the mixing target material sterilization line 50 according to the present embodiment, during production, the amount of ultraviolet irradiation is equal to or higher than a predetermined value or within a predetermined range, and If the integrity test result passes, the sterility of the water is ensured.

(Other raw material sterilization line 70)
Next, another raw material sterilization line 70 will be explained. The other raw material sterilization line 70 is a sterilization line that heat-sterilizes other raw materials other than the target raw material among the raw materials in the contents.

As shown in FIG. 7, the other raw material sterilization line 70 has a raw material sterilizer 80 that heat-sterilizes other raw materials from other raw material tanks 71, and a raw material tank 72 is installed downstream of the raw material sterilizer 80. has been done. The other raw material tank 71, the raw material sterilizer 80, and the raw material tank 72 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance direction of other raw materials. A circulation line 89 may be connected that returns other raw materials to other raw material tanks 71 without sending the liquid from the third stage cooling section 86 to the raw material tanks 72.

The other raw material tank 71 is a tank that stores other raw materials supplied from a supply source (not shown). This other raw material tank 71 plays a role of smoothing the flow of other raw materials by storing other raw materials. The volume of the other raw material tank 71 may be 0.3 m ³ or more and 3 m ³ or less, and may be 1 m ³ as an example.

A pump P3 for conveying other raw materials may be provided downstream of this other raw material tank 71. Furthermore, a raw material sterilizer 80 that constitutes the other raw material sterilization line 70 described above is provided downstream of the pump P3.

The raw material sterilizer 80 is a sterilizer that heat-sterilizes other raw materials stored in other raw material tanks 71. In this embodiment, the raw material sterilizer 80 may be a sterilizer (Ultra High-temperature, hereinafter simply referred to as UHT) that sterilizes other raw materials using an ultra-high-temperature heat treatment method. This UHT 80 includes a first stage heating section 81, a second stage heating section 82, a holding tube 83, a first stage cooling section 84, a second stage cooling section 85, and a third stage cooling section 86. ing. Other raw materials supplied to the UHT 80 are gradually heated by the first-stage heating section 81 and the second-stage heating section 82, and are heated to a target temperature within the holding tube 83. In this case, for example, the other raw materials may be heated to 60° C. or more and 80° C. or less by the first stage heating section 81, and may be heated to 80° C. or more and 150° C. or less by the second stage heating section 82. Further, the temperature of other raw materials is maintained within the holding tube 83 for a certain period of time. Other raw materials that have passed through the holding tube 83 are gradually cooled by the first stage cooling section 84, the second stage cooling section 85, and the third stage cooling section 86. Note that the number of stages of the heating section and the cooling section may be increased or decreased as necessary. Moreover, pressure loss of other raw materials may become high between the first-stage heating section 81 and the second-stage heating section 82. For this reason, an additional pump (not shown) may be provided between the first stage heating section 81 and the second stage heating section 82. Further, a homogenizer for homogenizing other raw materials is provided between the first stage heating section 81 and the second stage heating section 82 or between the first stage cooling section 84 and the second stage cooling section 85. It may be provided.

The processing capacity of such UHT80 may be 3 m ³ /h or more and 30 m ³ /h or less, and may be 6 m ³ /h as an example.

Furthermore, scale (deposits such as calcium) adhering to the UHT 80 may be monitored by monitoring the temperature of the highest temperature part of the UHT 80 (for example, the second stage heating section 82). Then, when cleaning (CIP) the UHT 80, the state of scale removal may be monitored. Thereby, the cleaning process for cleaning the UHT 80 can be optimized. Therefore, the cleaning time can be shortened, and the amount of water, steam, and cleaning agent used for cleaning can be reduced. As a result, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the content filling system 10 can be reduced.

Note that the UHT80 may be an injection method or an infusion method. Further, the heat exchanger used for heat exchange in the content filling system 10, such as the UHT80 heat exchanger, may be of a plate type or a shell and tube type. In addition, when using a shell and tube type heat exchanger, a type that heats up and cools down while circulating water or hot water through the medium side of the shell may be used, and other raw materials (products) A type of heat exchange (liquid-liquid exchange) may also be used.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the raw material sterilizer 80 that heat-sterilizes other raw materials is a UHT, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the raw material sterilizer 80 may be an ohmic (Joule type) heat sterilizer that directly applies electricity to other raw materials and causes them to self-generate heat. Further, the raw material sterilizer 80 may be a sterilizer that sterilizes other raw materials using microwaves (915 MHz, 2450 MHz). In this case, the microwave may be irradiated from outside the piping through which the undiluted solution or solid matter in other raw materials passes. Thereby, the temperature of the stock solution or solid material in other raw materials can be raised, and the stock solution or solid material in other raw materials can be sterilized. Even in these cases, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the content filling system 10 can be reduced.

The raw material tank 72 is a tank (so-called aseptic tank) that stores other raw materials sterilized by the raw material sterilizer 80. This raw material tank 72 plays the role of smoothing the flow of other raw materials by storing other sterilized raw materials. The volume of the raw material tank 72 may be 1 m ³ or more and 20 m ³ or less, and may be 2 m ³ as an example.

Alternatively, the raw material tank 72 may not be provided and the mixing tank 55 may be used alone. Moreover, one more tank 52 and one more raw material tank 72 may be provided.

Further, on the downstream side of the mixing tank 55, an auxiliary filter 53 for filtering out foreign substances and a filling machine tank 57 for storing the final product liquid that has passed through the auxiliary filter 53 may be provided. The auxiliary filter 53 may be provided at the tip of the filling device 21 (not shown). The filling machine tank 57 serves as a so-called cushion tank that does not cause a shortage of liquid even if the capacity of the filling device 21 is varied and ensures the filling amount and filling accuracy. The volume of the filling machine tank 57 may be 0.1 m ³ or more and 1 m ³ or less, and may be 0.3 m ³ as an example.

An addition unit 75 that adds solids to other raw materials may be connected. Thereby, in the content filling system 10, the bottle 100 can be filled with a solid content. In this case, the solid matter added by the addition unit 75 to the other raw materials may be, for example, canard, nata de coco, tapioca, or aloe. Further, the solid material may be a sterile solid material that has been sterilized in advance. Furthermore, in addition to the solids, sterile or non-sterile flavorings, acidulants, and colorants may be quantitatively added to other raw materials from the addition unit 75.

<Content filling method>
Next, a content filling method using the above-described content filling system 10 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

First, the preform supply device 1 sequentially supplies a plurality of preforms 100a to the receiving section 34 of the preform conveyance section 31 via the preform supply conveyor 2 (preform supply step, reference numeral S1 in FIG. 8). ). At this time, the preform 100a is sterilized in the preform sterilizer 34a by spraying hydrogen peroxide gas or mist onto the preform 100a, and then dried with hot air.

Next, the preform 100a is sent to the heating section 35, and heated by the heater 35a to, for example, about 90° C. or higher and 130° C. or lower. Next, the preform 100a heated by the heating section 35 is sent to the delivery section 36. The preform 100a is then sent from the delivery section 36 to the blow molding section 32.

Next, the bottle 100 is blow-molded by blow-molding the preform 100a sent to the blow-molding section 32 using a mold (not shown) (bottle-molding process, reference numeral S2 in FIG. 8). The blow-molded bottle 100 is then sent to the bottle transport section 33.

Next, in the sterilizer 11, the bottle 100 is sterilized using an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution that is a sterilizer (container sterilization step, reference numeral S3 in FIG. 8). At this time, the disinfectant may be a gas or a mist obtained by once vaporizing an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution at a temperature above the boiling point. The gas or mist of the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution adheres to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 100 and sterilizes the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 100.

Next, the bottle 100 is sent to the air rinse device 14. In the air rinse device 14, sterile heated air or room temperature air is supplied to the bottle 100, thereby activating hydrogen peroxide and removing foreign matter, hydrogen peroxide, etc. from the bottle 100. Air rinse step, reference numeral S4 in FIG. 8). In addition, in the air rinsing process, a condensed mist of low concentration hydrogen peroxide may be mixed with sterile heated air or sterilized air at room temperature, if necessary. In this case, hydrogen peroxide is gasified by sterile air. Then, in the air rinse step, gasified hydrogen peroxide may be supplied to the bottle 100.

Subsequently, the bottle 100 is transported to the filling device 21.

During this time, the raw material to be mixed that has been non-heat sterilized by the raw material sterilization line 50 and other raw materials that have been heat sterilized by the other raw material sterilization line 70 are mixed in the mixing tank 55 to produce the contents. product production step, reference numeral S5 in FIG. 8). A method of mixing non-heat sterilized raw materials to be mixed with other raw materials in the mixing tank 55 will be described. First, non-heat sterilized raw materials to be mixed are received into the mixing tank 55, and then other heat sterilized raw materials are received into the mixing tank 55. The order in which liquids are received into the mixing tank 55 may be the non-heat sterilized raw materials to be mixed first or the heat sterilized other raw materials. Alternatively, by using the indicated values of the flow meters of the raw material sterilization line 50 to be mixed and the other raw material sterilization line 70, each liquid may be simultaneously received into the mixing tank 55 at a constant rate (appropriate flow rate ratio). good. When receiving the liquid, it is preferable to stir it with an agitator (not shown) in the mixing tank 55. Further, it is preferable to monitor whether the mixing ratio is within a predetermined range using a saccharimeter, hydrometer, etc. in the mixing tank 55, and to reflect this in the flow rate of each liquid sent and the amount received in the tank. By installing a plurality of mixing tanks 55, the heat sterilized and non-heat sterilized liquids can be sent to the mixing tanks 55 one after another without having to standby in the circulation line 59. Yield is improved (see second embodiment shown in FIG. 10). Further, even when a plurality of filling machines are installed downstream of the mixing tank 55 or when the capacity of the filling machine is changed, the plurality of mixing tanks act as a buffer and can avoid a decrease in the operating rate.
Next, in the filling device 21, the contents generated in the mixing tank 55 are filled into the bottle 100 from its mouth while the bottle 100 is rotated (revolution) (contents filling step, reference numeral S6 in FIG. 8). .

In addition, the heating temperature at which other raw materials are heated by the other raw material sterilization line 70 may generally be about 60°C or more and 120°C or less when the acidity of the contents is less than pH 4.5, and the heating time may be approximately 30 seconds or more and 120 seconds or less. Moreover, when the acidity of the contents is pH 4.5 or higher, the heating temperature for heating other raw materials may be approximately 115° C. or higher and 150° C. or lower. Further, the heating time may be about 30 seconds or more and 120 seconds or less. This sterilizes all microorganisms that could grow inside the product bottle 101 among the microorganisms in the contents before filling. The other raw materials that have been heat sterilized are cooled to a temperature of approximately 3°C or higher and 40°C or lower.

In the filling device 21, the bottle 100 is filled at room temperature with the contents that have been sterilized and cooled to room temperature in the mixing tank 55. The temperature of the contents during filling is, for example, approximately 3°C or higher and 40°C or lower. In the filling device 21, the filling speed of the contents may be 30 mL/sec or more and 400 mL/sec or less.

Subsequently, the bottle 100 filled with the contents is transported to the cap attachment device 16 by the transport wheel 12.

On the other hand, the cap 88 is sterilized in advance by the cap sterilizer 18 (cap sterilization process, reference numeral S7 in FIG. 8). During this time, the cap 88 is first introduced into the cap sterilizer 18 from outside the filling system 10 . Next, the cap 88 is sprayed with hydrogen peroxide gas or mist in the cap sterilizer 18 to sterilize its inner and outer surfaces, dried with hot air, and sent to the cap attachment device 16 .

Next, in the cap attaching device 16, the sterilized cap 88 is attached to the mouth of the bottle 100 conveyed from the filling device 20, whereby the bottle 100 is closed and a product bottle 101 is obtained (cap attaching step, Fig. 8 code S8).

Thereafter, the product bottle 101 is conveyed from the cap attachment device 16 to the product bottle discharge section 25, and is conveyed to the outside of the content filling system 10 (bottle discharge step, reference numeral S9 in FIG. 8). The product bottle 101 is then transported to a packaging line (not shown) and packaged.

Note that the container sterilization process, air rinse process, contents filling process, cap attachment process, and bottle discharge process are performed in a sterile atmosphere surrounded by a sterilizer spray chamber 70d, an air rinse chamber 70e, a sterile chamber 70f, and an outlet chamber 70g. It is done indoors, i.e. in a sterile environment. Further, the cap sterilization process is performed by the cap sterilization device 18. In this case, the disinfectant spray chamber 70d, air rinse chamber 70e, sterile chamber 70f, outlet chamber 70g, and cap sterilizer 18 have been sterilized in advance by spraying hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid, or by spraying hot water. .

After the sterilization process of each chamber, the sterilizer spray chamber 70d, the air Positive pressure sterile air is supplied into the rinse chamber 70e, the sterile chamber 70f, and the outlet chamber 70g. Further, positive pressure sterile air is always supplied into the cap sterilizer 18 so that the sterile air is blown out to the outside of the cap sterilizer 18.

In this way, when positive pressure sterile air is supplied into each chamber 70d to 70g, the atmosphere isolation chamber 70c, sterilizer spray chamber 70d, and outlet chamber 70g are used for bottle sterilization with the sterile air in each chamber. Disinfect the disinfectant. At this time, the pressure in each chamber may be adjusted so that the pressure in the disinfectant spray chamber 70d, the air rinse chamber 70e, the sterile chamber 70f, and the outlet chamber 70g are each positive pressure. In this case, as described above, the pressure inside the disinfectant spray chamber 70d may be -10 Pa or more and 10 Pa or less. The pressure inside the air rinse chamber 70e may be 10 Pa or more and 30 Pa or less. The pressure inside the sterile chamber 70f may be 30 Pa or more and 60 Pa or less. The pressure within the outlet chamber 70g may be 10 Pa or more and 20 Pa or less.

Note that the production (transportation) speed of the bottles 100 in the content filling system 10 is preferably 100 bpm or more and 1500 bpm or less. Here, bpm (bottle per minute) refers to the transport speed of 100 bottles per minute.

Next, the sterilization method of the sterilizer 60 will be explained with reference to FIG. 9A.

(Sterilization method of sterilizer)
First, after the filling of the beverage in the content filling system 10 is completed, for example, the operation button of the control unit 90 is operated. Thereby, sterilization (SIP) of the sterilizer 60 is started. Note that the sterilization by the sterilizer 60 may be performed during production of the product bottles 101.

Specifically, first, the filling (production) of the contents by the contents filling system is finished ("end of production" in FIG. 9A). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2A, a post-production integrity test of the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65 of the sterilizer 60 is performed (S20A in FIG. 9A). If the foreign matter removal filter 61 is also a sterile filter, the integrity test is performed on at least two of the three filters. This post-production integrity test confirms that the integrity test results before and after the start of production passed (no leakage was observed) and that the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated during production was above the specified value or within the specified value range. This ensures the sterility of the raw materials to be mixed. Next, CIP processing is performed on the first sterilizer 62 and/or the second sterilizer 64 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the first sterilizer 62 etc.) (sterilizer cleaning and sterilization process, reference numeral S20 in FIG. 9A). CIP treatment is an alkaline treatment in which an alkaline chemical such as caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, sodium phosphate, sodium hypochlorite, surfactants, and chelating agents is added to water. After flowing the cleaning liquid into the channel or before flowing the alkaline cleaning solution into the channel, this is done by flowing an acidic cleaning solution in which a nitric acid-based or phosphoric acid-based acidic agent is added to water into the channel. Note that the alkaline cleaning process using an alkaline cleaning liquid and the acid cleaning process using an acidic cleaning liquid may be carried out in any combination. As a result, residues of the previous mixing target materials adhering to the flow path through which the drinking water passes are removed. Furthermore, when there are few raw materials to be mixed, or when the raw materials to be mixed contain components with high detergency, CIP treatment using only warm water or hot water may be used without adding a detergent. Alternatively, the CIP process may be omitted.

Next, move on to the SIP process. In the SIP step, for example, steam or hot water is supplied to the circulation system 59A including the sterilizer 60 (sterilizer cleaning sterilization step, reference numeral S20 in FIG. 9A). As a result, the first ultraviolet lamp 67a, the second ultraviolet lamp 67b, and the third ultraviolet lamp 67c (hereinafter also simply referred to as the first ultraviolet lamp 67a, etc.) of the first sterilizer 62, etc., the first sterilizer 62, the second sterilizer, etc. Each corner of the piping of the machine 64 is sterilized by heating with steam or hot water. The first sterilizer 62, the second sterilizer 64, the foreign matter removal filter 61, the sterilization filter 63, and the sterilization filter 65 may be sterilized at the same time. Furthermore, by adjusting the temperature, concentration, and time of the cleaning agent used in the CIP process, bacteria can be simultaneously inactivated (SIP process) without performing the subsequent SIP process (CSIP process). After the CIP process, SIP process, or CSIP process is completed, the cleaning agent is discharged. Thereafter, a rinsing step is performed to completely remove the cleaning agent. Pure water is supplied from a 50a pure water tank for rinsing.

Furthermore, if the first sterilizer 62 etc. are sensitive to heat, the first sterilizer 62 etc. may be sterilized with a sterilizer or a detergent (see FIG. 2K). At this time, first, a sterilizer is supplied to the sterilizer 60 (a sterilizer supply step, reference numeral S201 in FIG. 9B). The sterilizer or cleaning agent is fed from a sterilizer supply unit 96 that includes a tank, pump, heater, concentration meter, etc. (not shown), and is supplied to the pre-sterilizer 62A, the first sterilizer 62, and the first sterilizer provided in the sterilizer 60. 2. The liquid is sent to a sterilizer 64 or the like. It may be supplied from sampling point SP2 or sampling point SP4. The disinfectant may include peracetic acid. Moreover, when the disinfectant contains peracetic acid, the concentration of the disinfectant may be 1000 ppm or more and 3000 ppm or less. When the concentration of the sterilizer is 1000 ppm or more, the sterilizing effect of the first sterilizer 62 and the like by the sterilizer can be enhanced. Further, since the concentration of the sterilizer is 3000 ppm or less, the amount of peracetic acid used can be reduced, and the cost when sterilizing the sterilizer 60 can be reduced.

Furthermore, the temperature of the disinfectant or cleaning agent supplied to the circulation system 59A may be 50°C or higher and 150°C or lower. By setting the temperature of the sterilizer or cleaning agent to 50° C. or higher, the sterilizing effect and cleaning effect of the first sterilizer 62 and the like by the sterilizer can be enhanced. Further, since the temperature of the disinfectant or cleaning agent is 150° C. or lower, the first sterilizer 62 and the like can be manufactured at low cost without using special materials.

Next, as shown by the thick line in FIG. 2K, in the circulation system 95A including the first sterilizer 62A, the first sterilizer 62, the second sterilizer 64, and the circulation line 95 provided in the sterilizer 60 (mixing tank 51, A circulation system 59A including a pump P1 may be used) to circulate a disinfectant or a cleaning agent (a disinfectant circulation step, reference numeral S202 in FIG. 9B). In this case, by circulating the sterilizer for at least 10 seconds or more and 60 minutes or less in the circulation system 95A including the pre-sterilizer 62A, the first sterilizer 62, and the second sterilizer 64, the pre-sterilizer provided in the sterilizer 60 The sterilizer 62A, the first sterilizer 62, and the second sterilizer 64 may be sterilized. By setting the circulation time to 10 seconds or more, the sterilization effect of the first sterilizer 62 and the like by the sterilizer can be enhanced. Moreover, since the circulation time is 60 minutes or less, the sterilization time of the first sterilizer 62 and the like can be shortened. Therefore, downtime can be reduced

In addition, if the next raw material to be mixed has a pH of less than 4.5, hot water at a temperature of 70°C or higher, preferably 85°C or higher and lower than 100°C is heated for at least 3 minutes or more at 60°C in the circulation system 95A. The liquid is fed while being circulated for less than a minute, and in this way, the SIP of the raw material sterilization line 50 to be mixed is performed. If the first sterilizer 62 or the like has an ultraviolet lamp, the process may be performed with the ultraviolet lamp turned on. If the UV lamp does not have heat resistance, it is best to cool it down to a temperature at which the UV lamp can be turned on while circulating it after SIP. Further, it is preferable to provide a heat exchanger 97 and a pump (not shown) in the circulation line 95 of the circulation system 95A.

Thereafter, the disinfectant is discharged from the sampling point SP3 or the sampling point SP5 (S203 in FIG. 9B), and then enters the rinsing process (S204 in FIG. 9B). When discharging, sterile air may be supplied (not shown) to prevent bacterial contamination within the sterilized piping, and the pipe may be discharged in a short time. You may move to the rinsing process without performing the discharge process from sampling point SP3 or SP5. In the rinsing process, first, the pre-stage sterilizer 62A is thoroughly rinsed with a rinsing liquid so that the sterilizer does not adhere to the foreign substance removal filter 61, and then the rinsing liquid is passed through the foreign substance removal filter 61. Next, after the sterilizer remaining in the first sterilizer 62 is thoroughly rinsed with a rinsing liquid, the rinsing liquid is passed through the first sterilizing filter 63. Thereafter, the same operation is performed in order toward the downstream side.

Next, the first sterilizing filter 63 and/or the second sterilizing filter 65 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the first sterilizing filter 63 etc.) are sterilized (filter sterilizing step, reference numeral S21 in FIG. 9A). At this time, first, heated steam (fluid) or hot water (fluid) is supplied to the flow path of the first sterilization filter 63 etc. (fluid supply step, reference numeral S211 in FIG. 9A). At this time, sterilizing steam is supplied to the first sterilizing filter 63 and the like from the sterile air supply port 60a, for example.

Next, the temperature of the heated steam or hot water supplied to the flow path of the first sterilization filter 63 etc. is measured, and the F value is calculated based on the measured temperature (F value calculation step, as shown in FIG. 9A). code S212).

Thereafter, when the F value becomes equal to or higher than the target value, sterilization of the first sterilization filter 63 and the like is finished. In this way, the first sterilization filter 63 and the like are sterilized. In this way, by performing heat sterilization of the first sterilizing filter 63 etc. using the F value, the first sterilizing filter 63 etc. can be sterilized without applying more heat than necessary to the first sterilizing filter 63 etc. can be sterilized. Therefore, the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the content filling system 10 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the first sterilizing filter 63 and the like can be sterilized without applying more heat than necessary to the first sterilizing filter 63 and the like, damage to the membrane of the first sterilizing filter 63 and the like can be suppressed. Therefore, the life of the first sterilizing filter 63 and the like can be extended, and the first sterilizing filter 63 and the like can be used for a long period of time without being replaced.

Note that when sterilizing the first sterilizing filter 63 and the like, the area to be sterilized by steam may be divided by opening and closing valves (not shown) provided at sampling points SP1 to SP6. For example, the steam that sterilizes the first sterilization filter 63 may be supplied to the area between the sampling point SP3 and the sampling point SP4, thereby sterilizing the area. Furthermore, the steam that sterilizes the second sterilization filter 65 may be supplied to the area between the sampling point SP5 and the sampling point SP6, thereby sterilizing the area. Note that the foreign matter removal filter 61 (or the sterilization filter) may be sterilized together with the first sterilization filter 63 and the second sterilization filter 65.

In this way, the SIP process is performed on the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65, and then the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65 are cooled (S213 in FIG. 9A). , an integrity test is performed on the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65 of the sterilizer 60 (reference numeral 22 in FIG. 9A). After that, filling (production) of contents by the contents filling system is started again.

Furthermore, the order of the sterilizer cleaning and sterilization step (S20 in FIG. 9A) and the filter cleaning and sterilization step (S21 in FIG. 9A) may be reversed (see FIG. 9D). Furthermore, during the SIP cooling process of the filters 61, 63, and 65, it is preferable to perform the cleaning and sterilization process of the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 in parallel (see FIG. 9E). In this case, since the pipes and valves in contact with the front and rear of the filters 61, 63, and 65 come into contact with the sterilizing agent, the cooling time can be shortened. Specifically, it is preferable to send the sterilizing agent from the time when the filters 61, 63, and 65 have been cooled to below 110°C. Thereby, the sterilizer cleaning and sterilization process can be completed during the cooling process of the filters 61, 63, and 65.

Further, in the first sterilizer 62 and the like, when producing the product bottle 101, ultraviolet rays are irradiated by the first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the like. Thereby, there is little possibility that the first sterilizer 62 and the like will be contaminated with bacteria. Therefore, when sterilizing the sterilizer 60, the first sterilizer 62 and the like do not need to be sterilized.

In addition, as another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9C, the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65 of the sterilizer 60 and the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 are simultaneously cleaned.・Can be sterilized. As shown in FIG. 9C, filling (production) is first completed. Thereafter, a post-production integrity test is performed on the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65 (S30 in FIG. 9C). Next, a cleaning agent and a sterilizing agent are supplied from before the foreign matter removal filter 61, and a cleaning (CIP) process is performed for a predetermined time while circulating them using the circulation line 59 (S31 in FIG. 9). After the CIP process, a sterilization (SIP) process may be performed (S32 in FIG. 9C). Alternatively, instead of the CIP treatment and the SIP treatment, cleaning and sterilization may be performed simultaneously (CSIP treatment) (S33 in FIG. 9C).

Cleaning agents and disinfectants used for CIP treatment, SIP treatment, or CSIP treatment include acidic agents such as peracetic acid, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, pernitric acid, nitric acid, and phosphoric acid, and alkaline agents such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Chemicals, chlorine-based chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide, alcohols such as ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol, ozone water, acidic water, and surfactants may be used alone, or two or more of these may be used alone. may be used in combination. The temperature of the cleaning agent and disinfectant is raised by a heater (not shown), and the cleaning or disinfecting agent is heated under predetermined conditions (temperature, concentration, time) based on the values of the thermometer 59b and concentration meter 59c installed at each location in the sterilizer 60 and circulation line 59. Perform sterilization or washing and sterilization.

The cleaning agent and the disinfectant may be discharged while supplying pure water from the water tank 50a and replacing the disinfectant with pure water using the pump P1. Water may be supplied and disinfectant may be discharged from other equipment (not shown). When discharging the disinfectant, it is preferable to monitor the value of a concentration meter 59c provided on the downstream side of the circulation line 59, and rinse until this value becomes the same value as that of the pure water production device 50c. The rinsing time may be set using a timer, and the rinsing process may be completed when the rinsing time reaches a predetermined value. The first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b may or may not be turned on during the cleaning process, sterilization process, or cleaning and sterilization process. Alternatively, the light may be turned on only during the rinsing process. After cleaning and sterilization are completed, a pre-production integrity test is performed on the first sterilizing filter 63 and the second sterilizing filter 65 (S34 in FIG. 9C).

Next, if no leakage from the filter is found in the integrity test, the process moves to a first production preparation step in which the product liquid is replaced (S35 in FIG. 9C). In the first production preparation step, while circulating pure water through the circulation line 59, it is confirmed that the first ultraviolet lamp 67a and the second ultraviolet lamp 67b have illuminance equal to or higher than a specified level. When there are a plurality of ultraviolet lamps 67a and 67b, the total irradiation amount is preferably 10 mJ/cm ² or more, preferably 100 mJ/cm ² or more, for example. Next, a non-heat sterilized target raw material (product liquid) is supplied from the target raw material sterilization line 50B, and pure water is replaced with the product liquid. After the sterilizer 60 is sufficiently replaced with the product liquid (after a predetermined period of time as measured by a flow meter and a timer), the pipe line is switched from the circulation line 59 to the tank 52 side, and the product liquid is stored in the tank 52. The process moves to a second production preparation step in which the product liquid is blended (S36 in FIG. 9C).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the other raw material sterilization line 70 performs thermal decomposition by being heated or heat sterilizes the content filling system 10 by being heated among the raw materials of the contents. Raw materials that cause metal corrosion or precipitate to deteriorate the functionality of detection devices, etc., are treated as target raw materials and are distinguished from other raw materials and sterilized with water without heating. This can prevent the target raw material from being thermally decomposed or degraded and reduced, and metal corrosion and precipitation due to heating will not occur within the content filling system 10. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the target raw material from being supplied in excess of what is necessary, to suppress material deterioration of the target raw material, and to prolong the period for repair or replacement of the content filling system 10. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent functional deterioration of the content filling system 10.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the raw material to be mixed consisting of water and the target raw material, and other raw materials as a whole are not sterilized by non-heating, so when other raw materials are passed through the non-heat sterilization line, It is possible to prevent filter clogging of the non-heat sterilization line from occurring.

<Second embodiment>
A second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Here, FIG. 10 is a schematic system diagram showing a content filling system according to the second embodiment, and is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1A showing the first embodiment.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 10 differs in that a water sterilization line 50A for non-heat sterilization of water and a target raw material sterilization line 50B for non-heat sterilization of target raw materials are provided independently, but other configurations are possible. is substantially the same as the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 9B. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the same parts as in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 9B are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, the content filling system 10 includes a water sterilization line (first sterilization line) 50A that sterilizes water (first content liquid) without heating, and a water sterilization line (first sterilization line) 50A that sterilizes the target raw material (second content liquid) without heating. Target raw material sterilization line (second sterilization line) 50B, other raw material sterilization line (third sterilization line) 70 that heat-sterilizes raw materials other than the target raw material (third content liquid), water sterilization line 50A, target A first mixing tank 55A, a second mixing tank 55B, and a third mixing tank 55C are connected to each of the raw material sterilization line 50B and other raw material sterilization lines 70, and the first mixing tank 55A, the second mixing tank 55B, and the third It includes a first filling device 21A, a second filling device 21B, and a third filling device 21C connected to each of the mixing tanks 55C.

Of these, a water sterilization line 50A that non-heat sterilizes water, a target raw material sterilization line 50B that non-heat sterilizes target raw materials, and another raw material sterilization line 70 that heat sterilizes other raw materials are installed in parallel and independently from each other. has been done.

In FIG. 10, water (pure water) supplied from the pure water production device 50c is stored in a water tank 50a, and the water supplied from the water tank 50a is non-heat sterilized by a water sterilization line 50A.

Also, among the raw materials of the contents, the target raw material mentioned above is stored in the target raw material tank 50b, and the target raw material supplied from the target raw material tank 50b is non-heat sterilized by the target raw material sterilization line 50B.

On the other hand, among the raw materials in the contents, raw materials other than the target raw materials are stored in other raw material tanks 71, and other raw materials stored in other raw material tanks 71 are sterilized in other raw material sterilization lines 70 as described above. Heat sterilized.

The water non-heat sterilized by the water sterilization line 50A, the target raw material non-heat sterilized by the target raw material sterilization line 50B, and other raw materials heat sterilized by the other raw material sterilization line 70 are each stored in a first mixing tank. 55A, a second mixing tank 55B, and a third mixing tank 55C. In this case, for example, water that has been non-heat sterilized by the water sterilization line 50A may be uniformly sent to the first mixing tank 55A, the second mixing tank 55B, and the third mixing tank 55C, respectively, or to the first mixing tank 55A. A large amount of water may be sent, or a small amount of water may be sent to the second mixing tank 55B and the third mixing tank 55C. Similarly, the target raw material non-heat sterilized by the target raw material sterilization line 50B may be uniformly sent to the first mixing tank 55A, the second mixing tank 55B, and the third mixing tank 55C, respectively. A large amount of the target raw material may be sent, or a small amount of the target raw material may be sent to the second mixing tank 55B and the third mixing tank 55C. Similarly, other raw materials heat-sterilized in the other raw material sterilization line 70 may be uniformly sent to the first mixing tank 55A, the second mixing tank 55B, and the third mixing tank 55C, respectively. A large amount of other raw materials may be sent to the second mixing tank 55B and a small amount of other raw materials may be sent to the third mixing tank 55C.

In the first mixing tank 55A, the second mixing tank 55B, and the third mixing tank 55C, non-heat sterilized water, non-heat sterilized target raw material, and other heat sterilized raw materials are mixed to form the contents. generated.

The contents generated in the first mixing tank 55A, the second mixing tank 55B, and the third mixing tank 55C are supplied to either the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, or the third filling device 21C, Empty bottles 100 are filled with contents from the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C. By installing a plurality of mixing tanks 55A to 55C, as soon as the cleaning and sterilization of the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C are completed, and production preparations are completed, the first filling device 21A, which has been cleaned and sterilized, It becomes possible to promptly send the generated contents to any one of the filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C. Furthermore, by installing two or more mixing tanks 55A to 55C, a buffer for the generated contents can be created, and it becomes possible to fill the contents without waiting for generation. In addition, if the concentrations in the first mixing tank 55A, second mixing tank 55B, and third mixing tank 55C do not fall within the specified range, the water tank 50a, target raw material tank 50b, and other raw material tanks 71 are supplied as appropriate, Concentration can be adjusted. In addition, in order to remix the first mixing tank 55A, the second mixing tank 55B, and the third mixing tank 55C, the first mixing tank 55A, the second mixing tank 55B, and the third mixing tank 55C are kept in a sterile state. , has the function of aseptic blowing. Specifically, blow piping for drainage sterilized with steam is provided below the first mixing tank 55A, second mixing tank 55B, and third mixing tank 55C, and the inside of the piping is sterilized with steam immediately before draining, and then The liquids in the first mixing tank 55A, second mixing tank 55B, and third mixing tank 55C are blown while maintaining positive tank pressure, and after blowing, the above-mentioned piping is re-sterilized with steam (not shown). In addition, it is preferable to use an aseptic valve equipped with a steam barrier, a sterile water barrier, or a sterile air barrier for the piping through which each liquid flows so that the respective liquids do not mix.

In addition, water that has been non-heat sterilized by the water sterilization line 50A is sent to the first mixing tank 55A, stored in the first mixing tank s55A without mixing with the target raw material or other raw materials, and directly sent to the first filling device 21A. The liquid may be sent and filled into the bottle 100 by the first filling device 21A. Similarly, only the target raw material that has been non-heat sterilized by the target raw material sterilization line 50B is sent to the second tank 55B, and is sent to the second filling device 21B without being mixed with other raw materials or water. The bottle 100 may be filled with the filling device 21B. Similarly, only other raw materials that have been heat sterilized in the other raw material sterilization line 70 are sent to the third mixing tank 55C, and are sent to the third filling device 21C without being mixed with the target raw materials or water, where they are heat sterilized. Alternatively, only other raw materials may be filled into the bottle 100 by the third filling device 21C. Further, in FIG. 10, an embodiment has been described in which three systems of liquids are fed so that they can be mixed with each other, but the present invention is not limited to this, and three systems of liquids may be fed independently of each other. Alternatively, the liquids of the three systems may be sterilized individually, and then the liquids of the three systems may be mixed aseptically in a single mixing tank, for example, the first mixing tank 55. Alternatively, the three systems of liquids may be sterilized individually and then mixed aseptically in a single filling device, for example, the first filling device 21A, without passing through a mixing tank. Instead of aseptic mixing, the three systems of liquids may be sterilized by heating or non-heating, and filled aseptically by the first filling device 21A to the third filling device 21C, respectively. Alternatively, you can sterilize only other raw materials and target raw materials with a large number of bacteria by heating or non-heating, and mix the other raw materials and target raw materials with water without sterilizing water or sterile water with a low number of bacteria. good. Note that water, the target raw material, or other raw materials may be directly sent to the first filling device 21A to the third filling device 21C and mixed therein instead of the first mixing tank 55A to the third mixing tank.

As explained in the first embodiment, among the raw materials of the contents, the target raw materials are those that thermally decompose when heated, cause metal corrosion, or precipitate and impair the functions of the detection device, etc. It causes deterioration. Therefore, in this embodiment, the target raw material is sterilized by non-heat sterilization.

On the other hand, as explained in the first embodiment, other raw materials refer to raw materials other than the target raw material among the raw materials of the content. It is also possible to non-heat sterilize other raw materials, but since the non-heat sterilization line has a filter, in consideration of the fact that the throughput will decrease due to filter blockage, this embodiment Heat sterilization is applied to the raw materials.

In this embodiment, the water sterilization line 50A is for non-heat sterilization of water, the target raw material sterilization line 50B is for non-heat sterilization of target raw materials, and the water sterilization line 50A and the target raw material sterilization line 50B are Both have the sterilizer 60 described in the first embodiment.

That is, the sterilizer 60 having the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 to 6B described in the first embodiment can be used.

The other raw material sterilization line 70 heat-sterilizes other raw materials, and the other raw material sterilization line 70 has the raw material sterilizer 80 described in the first embodiment.

That is, as the raw material sterilizer 80, one having the configuration shown in FIG. 7 described in the first embodiment can be used.

Further, as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a raw material tank 72 may be provided downstream of the raw material sterilizer 80, and an auxiliary filter 73 and a raw material tank 74 may further be provided downstream of the raw material tank 72. good. Furthermore, an addition unit 75 may be provided on the downstream side of the raw material tank 72, and in this case, the addition unit 75 can add solid substances such as sardine, nata de coco, tapioca, or aloe to other raw materials. Further, the solid material may be a sterile solid material that has been sterilized in advance. In addition to the solids, sterile or non-sterile fragrances, acidulants, and colorants may be quantitatively added to other raw materials from the addition unit 75.

In addition, the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C are capable of handling water, target raw materials, etc. in any of the first mixing tank 55A, second mixing tank 55B, and third mixing tank 55C. The container receives the contents created by mixing the raw materials, and fills the contents into the bottle 100 from the mouth of the bottle 100.

The first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C are all made of, for example, a rotary filler arranged in a sterile chamber, similar to the filling device 21 in the first embodiment. A linear filler may be used as the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C. Furthermore, the bottles 100 filled in the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C may be plastic bottles or cups, or may be paper containers or pouches. A composite container of these may also be used.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, some of the raw materials in the content may thermally decompose when heated, cause metal corrosion when heated, or precipitate and impair the functions of the detection device, etc. The raw material to be degraded is treated as the target raw material and is distinguished from other raw materials and sterilized without heating. This can prevent the target raw material from thermally decomposing and deteriorating or decreasing, and metal corrosion due to heating and precipitation due to heating will not occur within the content filling system 10. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the target raw material from being supplied in excess of what is necessary, to suppress material deterioration of the target raw material, and to prolong the period for repair or replacement of the content filling system 10. Furthermore, functional deterioration of the content filling system 10 can be prevented.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the raw material to be mixed consisting of water and the target raw material, and other raw materials as a whole are not sterilized by non-heating, so when other raw materials are passed through the non-heat sterilization line, It is possible to prevent filter clogging of the non-heat sterilization line from occurring.

In addition, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the water sterilized without heating by the water sterilization line 50A is not sent to the first mixing tank 55A, the second mixing tank 55B, or the third mixing tank 55C, and the contents are The water may be sent to chambers 70a to 70g that house various devices of the filling system 10, and these chambers 70a to 70g may be washed with non-heat sterilized water via the water sterilization line 50A. In addition, water that has been non-heat sterilized by the water sterilization line 50A is transferred to another raw material sterilization line 70, the target raw material sterilization line 50B, the first mixing tank 55A to the third mixing tank 55C, or the first filling device 21A to the third filling device. It may be supplied as rinsing water after CIP processing, SIP processing, or CSIP processing in which CIP and SIP are performed simultaneously on the device 21C.

Furthermore, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a part of the water (pure water) supplied from the pure water production device 50c and stored in the water tank 50a is supplied to the target raw material tank 50b, and this target raw material tank The target raw material in 50b may be diluted with water.

Also, a part of the water (pure water) stored in the water tank 50a may be supplied to another raw material tank 71, and other raw materials in this other raw material tank 71 may be diluted with water.

In this way, by supplying water from the water tank 50a to the target raw material tank 50b and diluting the target raw material in the target raw material tank 50b with water, the target raw material can be passed smoothly into the target raw material sterilization line 50B. can.

Also, water from the water tank 50a is supplied to another raw material tank 71, and other raw materials in the other raw material tank 71 are diluted with water, thereby allowing the other raw materials to smoothly pass into the other raw material sterilization line 70. be able to.

Next, an application example of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 17.

In the application example shown in FIGS. 11 to 17, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, non-heat sterilized water is sent to the first mixing tank 55A by the water sterilization line 50A and mixed with the target raw material or other raw materials. This example shows an example in which the liquid is sent from the first mixing tank 55A to the first filling device 21A, and water is filled into the bottle 100 by the first filling device 21A. Similarly, the target raw material that has been non-heat sterilized by the target raw material sterilization line 50B is sent to the second mixing tank 55B, and the liquid is sent from the second mixing tank 55B to the second filling device 21B without mixing with other raw materials or water. Then, the target raw material is filled into the bottle 100 by the second filling device 21B.

In the application example shown in FIGS. 12 to 17, only other raw materials heat-sterilized in the other raw material sterilization line 70 are sent to the third mixing tank 55C, and the third mixing is performed without mixing with the target raw materials or water. The liquid is sent from the tank 55C to the third filling device 21C, and the bottle 100 is filled with other raw materials by the third filling device 21C.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, the first filling device 21A is placed inside the sterile chamber 70f. Water is fed from the first mixing tank 55A to the first filling device 21A. Further, a sterile chamber 70h is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70f in the transport direction of the bottle 100 via a transport wheel 12, and a second filling device 21B is disposed within this sterile chamber 70h. Then, the target raw material is fed from the second mixing tank 55B to the second filling device 21B.

Further, a sterile chamber 70j is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70h in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a cap mounting device 16 is disposed within this sterile chamber 70j. Further, an outlet chamber 70g is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70j.
The first filling device 21A and the second filling device 21B are both rotary fillers having a plurality of rotatable filling nozzles 21a.

In FIG. 11, a bottle 100 that has been sterilized in advance on the upstream side is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the first filling device 21A in the sterile chamber 70f. In the first filling device 21A, the empty bottle 100 is filled with water sent from the first mixing tank 55A. In this first filling device 21A, water is filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Next, the bottle 100 is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the second filling device 21B inside the sterile chamber 70h.

In the second filling device 21B, the target raw material sent from the second mixing tank 55B is filled into a bottle 100 that has been previously filled with water by the first filling device 21A. In this second filling device 21B, target raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Next, the bottle 100 is sent via the transport wheel 12 to the capping device 16 in the sterile chamber 70j.

The cap attachment device 16 is a device that closes the bottle 100 by attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100. In the cap attachment device 16, the bottle 100 filled with water and target raw materials (contents) is closed with a cap 88, and the bottle 100 is sealed to prevent outside air and microorganisms from entering. In the cap attachment device 16, the caps 88 are attached to the mouths of the plurality of bottles 100 filled with contents while being rotated (revolving). By attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100 in this manner, a product bottle 101 is obtained (see FIG. 1B).

The cap 88 is sterilized in advance by the cap sterilizer 18. The cap sterilizer 18 is disposed, for example, outside the sterile chamber 70j and near the cap attachment device 16. In the cap sterilizing device 18 , a large number of caps 88 brought in from outside the content filling system 10 are collected in advance and conveyed in a line toward the cap mounting device 16 . On the way to the cap attachment device 16, the cap 88 is blown with hydrogen peroxide gas or mist toward the inner and outer surfaces of the cap 88, and then dried with hot air and sterilized (see FIG. 1B).

The product bottle unloading section 25 continuously unloads the product bottles 101 to which the caps 88 have been attached by the cap attaching device 16 to the outside of the content filling system 10 .

Next, in the example shown in FIG. 12, the first filling device 21A is arranged within the sterile chamber 70f. Water is fed from the first mixing tank 55A to the first filling device 21A. Further, a sterile chamber 70h is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70f in the transport direction of the bottle 100 via a transport wheel 12, and a second filling device 21B is disposed within this sterile chamber 70h. Then, the target raw material is fed from the second mixing tank 55B to the second filling device 21B.

Further, a sterile chamber 70i is provided adjacent to the sterile chamber 70h, and a third filling device 21C is disposed within this sterile chamber 70i. Then, other raw materials are sent from the third mixing tank 55C to the third filling device 21C. Note that the sterile chamber 70i is arranged downstream of the sterile chamber 70f in the direction of transport of the bottle 100, so that the sterile chamber 70h and the sterile chamber 70i are arranged in parallel on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70f in the direction of transport of the bottle 100. It can also be said that it has been done.

Further, a sterile chamber 70j is provided downstream of the sterile chambers 70h and 70i in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a cap mounting device 16 is disposed within this sterile chamber 70j. Furthermore, an outlet chamber 70g is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70j.

Note that the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C are all composed of rotary fillers having a plurality of rotatable filling nozzles 21a.
In FIG. 12, a bottle 100 that has been sterilized in advance on the upstream side is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the first filling device 21A in the sterile chamber 70f.

In the first filling device 21A, the empty bottle 100 is filled with water sent from the first mixing tank 55A. In this first filling device 21A, water is filled into the inside of the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Next, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the second filling device 21B in the sterile chamber 70h. In the second filling device 21B, the target raw material sent from the second mixing tank 55B is filled into a bottle 100 that has been filled with water in advance by the first filling device 21A. In this second filling device 21B, target raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

On the other hand, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f may be transported via the transport wheel 12 to the third filling device 21C in the sterile chamber 70i. In this case, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f is not sent to the second filling device 21B side in the sterile chamber 70h.
When the bottle 100 is transported to the third filling device 21C, the other raw materials fed from the third mixing tank 55C are transferred into the bottle 100 which has been filled with water by the first filling device 21A. is filled with. In this third filling device 21C, other raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Thereafter, the bottles 100 in the sterile chamber 70h and the bottles 100 in the sterile chamber 70i are both sent via the transport wheel 12 to the cap attachment device 16 in the sterile chamber 70j. The cap attachment device 16 is a device that closes the bottle 100 by attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100. In the capping device 16, the bottle 100 filled with water, target raw material, or other raw material (contents) is closed with a cap 88, and the bottle 100 is sealed to prevent outside air and microorganisms from entering. In the cap attachment device 16, the caps 88 are attached to the mouths of the plurality of bottles 100 filled with contents while being rotated (revolving). By attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100 in this manner, a product bottle 101 is obtained (see FIG. 1B).

The cap 88 is sterilized in advance by the cap sterilizer 18. The cap sterilizer 18 is disposed, for example, outside the sterile chamber 70j and near the cap attachment device 16. In the cap sterilizing device 18 , a large number of caps 88 brought in from outside the content filling system 10 are collected in advance and conveyed in a line toward the cap mounting device 16 . On the way to the cap attachment device 16, the cap 88 is blown with hydrogen peroxide gas or mist toward the inner and outer surfaces of the cap 88, and then dried with hot air and sterilized (see FIG. 1B).

The product bottle unloading section 25 continuously unloads the product bottles 101 to which the caps 88 have been attached by the cap attaching device 16 to the outside of the content filling system 10 .
Next, in the example shown in FIG. 13, the first filling device 21A is placed in the sterile chamber 70f. Water is fed from the first mixing tank 55A to the first filling device 21A. Further, a sterile chamber 70h is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70f in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a second filling device 21B is disposed within this sterile chamber 70h. Then, the target raw material is fed from the second mixing tank 55B to the second filling device 21B.

Further, a sterile chamber 70i is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70h in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a third filling device 21C is disposed within this sterile chamber 70i. Then, other raw materials are sent from the third mixing tank 55C to the third filling device 21C. Further, a sterile chamber 70j is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70i in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a cap mounting device 16 is disposed within the sterile chamber 70j.

In FIG. 13, the sterile chamber 70f, the sterile chamber 70h, the sterile chamber 70i, and the sterile chamber 70j are arranged along the outer periphery of a circular carrier 110 that rotationally transports the bottle 100. Further, on the outer periphery of the circular conveyance body 110, a sterile chamber 70k containing the conveyance wheel 12 is arranged upstream of the sterile chamber 70f. Further, an outlet chamber 70g is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70j in the transport direction of the bottle 100.

Note that the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C are all composed of rotary fillers having a plurality of rotatable filling nozzles 21a.
In FIG. 13, a bottle 100 that has been sterilized in advance on the upstream side is transported to a sterile chamber 70f via a transport wheel 12 and a circular transport body 110 arranged in a sterile chamber 70k, and then transported to a sterile chamber 70f via a transport wheel 12 and a circular transport body 110 disposed in a sterile chamber 70k. It is transported to the first filling device 21A via the container.

In the first filling device 21A, the empty bottle 100 is filled with water sent from the first mixing tank 55A. In this first filling device 21A, water is filled into the inside of the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Next, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f is transported to the second filling device 21B via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70f, the circular transport body 110, and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70h. In the second filling device 21B, the target raw material sent from the second mixing tank 55B is filled into a bottle 100 that has been filled with water in advance by the first filling device 21A. In this second filling device 21B, target raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Thereafter, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70h is transported to the third filling device 21C via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70h, the circular transport body 110, and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70i. When the bottle 100 is transported to the third filling device 21C, the other raw materials sent from the third mixing tank 55C are filled into the bottle 100 that has been filled with water and the target raw material in advance. Ru. In this third filling device 21C, other raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Thereafter, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70i is sent to the capping device 16 via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70i, the circular transport body 110, and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70j. The cap attachment device 16 is a device that closes the bottle 100 by attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100. In the cap attachment device 16, the bottle 100 filled with water, the target raw material, and other raw materials (contents) is closed with a cap 88, and the bottle 100 is sealed to prevent outside air and microorganisms from entering. In the cap attachment device 16, the caps 88 are attached to the mouths of the plurality of bottles 100 filled with contents while being rotated (revolving). By attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100 in this manner, a product bottle 101 is obtained (see FIG. 1B).

The cap 88 is sterilized in advance by the cap sterilizer 18. The cap sterilizer 18 is disposed, for example, outside the sterile chamber 70j and near the cap attachment device 16. In the cap sterilizing device 18, a large number of caps 88 brought in from the outside of the content filling system 10 are collected in advance and transported in a line toward the cap mounting device 16 by the cap transport path 18A. While the cap 88 is on the cap conveyance path 18A toward the cap mounting device 16, hydrogen peroxide gas or mist is blown toward the inner and outer surfaces of the cap 88, and then the cap 88 is dried with hot air and sterilized.

The product bottle unloading section 25 continuously unloads the product bottles 101 to which the caps 88 have been attached by the cap attaching device 16 to the outside of the content filling system 10 .

Next, in the example shown in FIG. 14, the first filling device 21A is arranged within the sterile chamber 70f. Water is fed from the first mixing tank 55A to the first filling device 21A. Further, a sterile chamber 70h is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70f in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a second filling device 21B is disposed within this sterile chamber 70h. Then, the target raw material is fed from the second mixing tank 55B to the second filling device 21B.

Further, a sterile chamber 70i is provided adjacent to the sterile chamber 70h, and a third filling device 21C is disposed within this sterile chamber 70i. Then, other raw materials are sent from the third mixing tank 55C to the third filling device 21C. In FIG. 14, a sterile chamber 70h and a sterile chamber 70i are arranged in parallel on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70f in the transport direction of the bottle 100.

Further, a sterile chamber 70j is provided downstream of the sterile chambers 70h and 70i in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a cap mounting device 16 is disposed within this sterile chamber 70j. Further, an outlet chamber 70g is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70j in the transport direction of the bottle 100.

Note that the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C are all composed of rotary fillers having a plurality of rotatable filling nozzles 21a. Further, of the sterile chamber 70h that accommodates the second filling device 21B, a region on the side of the sterile chamber 70i that accommodates the third filling device 21C is partitioned to form a sterile chamber 70l, and the transport wheel 12 is placed in the sterile chamber 70l. It is located.

In FIG. 14, a bottle 100 that has been sterilized in advance on the upstream side is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the first filling device 21A in the sterile chamber 70f. In the first filling device 21A, the empty bottle 100 is filled with water sent from the first mixing tank 55A. In this first filling device 21A, water is filled into the inside of the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Next, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the second filling device 21B in the sterile chamber 70h. In the second filling device 21B, the target raw material sent from the second mixing tank 55B is filled into a bottle 100 that has been filled with water in advance by the first filling device 21A. In this second filling device 21B, target raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

On the other hand, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f may be transported to the third filling device 21C in the sterile chamber 70i via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70h and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70i. In this case, the bottle in the sterile chamber 70f is not sent to the second filling device 21B side in the sterile chamber 70h.

When the bottle 100 is transported to the third filling device 21C, the other raw materials fed from the third mixing tank 55C are transferred into the bottle 100 which has been filled with water by the first filling device 21A. is filled with. In this third filling device 21C, other raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Thereafter, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70h and the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70i are transported via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70h and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70i, respectively, to the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70j. It is sent to the cap attachment device 16. The cap attachment device 16 is a device that closes the bottle 100 by attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100. In the capping device 16, the bottle 100 filled with water, the target raw material, or other raw materials (contents) is closed with a cap 88, and the bottle 100 is sealed to prevent outside air and microorganisms from entering. In the cap attachment device 16, the caps 88 are attached to the mouths of the plurality of bottles 100 filled with contents while being rotated (revolving). By attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100 in this manner, a product bottle 101 is obtained (see FIG. 1B).

The cap 88 is sterilized in advance by the cap sterilizer 18. The cap sterilizer 18 is disposed, for example, outside the sterile chamber 70j and near the cap attachment device 16. In the cap sterilizing device 18, a large number of caps 88 brought in from the outside of the content filling system 10 are collected in advance and transported in a line toward the cap mounting device 16 by the cap transport path 18A. While the cap 88 is on the cap conveyance path 18A toward the cap mounting device 16, hydrogen peroxide gas or mist is blown toward the inner and outer surfaces of the cap 88, and then the cap 88 is dried with hot air and sterilized.

The product bottle unloading section 25 continuously unloads the product bottles 101 to which the caps 88 have been attached by the cap attaching device 16 to the outside of the content filling system 10 .

In the example shown in FIG. 14, the bottle 100 filled with water by the first filling device 21A in the sterile chamber 70f is transferred to the second filling device 21B in the sterile chamber 70h or the third filling device 21C in the sterile chamber 70i. It may be directly sent to the sterile chamber 70j via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70l without sending it to the sterile chamber 70j. In this case, a product bottle 101 is obtained by attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100 filled only with water.

Next, in the example shown in FIG. 15, the first filling device 21A is arranged in the sterile chamber 70f. Water is fed from the first mixing tank 55A to the first filling device 21A. Further, a sterile chamber 70i is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70f in the transport direction of the bottle 100 via a transport wheel 12, and a third filling device 21C is disposed within this sterile chamber 70i. Then, other raw materials are sent from the third mixing tank 55C to the third filling device 21C.

Further, a sterile chamber 70h is provided adjacent to the sterile chamber 70f and the sterile chamber 70i, and the second filling device 21B is disposed within this sterile chamber 70h. Then, the target raw material is fed from the second mixing tank 55B to the second filling device 21B. In FIG. 15, a sterile chamber 70h and a sterile chamber 70i are arranged in parallel on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70f in the transport direction of the bottle 100. Further, a sterile chamber 70j is provided downstream of the sterile chambers 70h and 70i in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a cap mounting device 16 is disposed within this sterile chamber 70j. Further, an outlet chamber 70g is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70j in the transport direction of the bottle 100.

Note that the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C are all composed of rotary fillers having a plurality of rotatable filling nozzles 21a. Further, of the sterile chamber 70i that houses the third filling device 21C, a region on the side of the sterile chamber 70h that houses the second filling device 21B is partitioned to form a sterile chamber 70l, and the transport wheel 12 is inside this sterile chamber 70l. is located.

In FIG. 15, a bottle 100 that has been sterilized in advance on the upstream side is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the first filling device 21A in the sterile chamber 70f. In the first filling device 21A, the empty bottle 100 is filled with water sent from the first mixing tank 55A. In this first filling device 21A, water is filled into the inside of the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Next, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f is transported to the second filling device 21B via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70f and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70h. In the second filling device 21B, the target raw material sent from the second mixing tank 55B is filled into a bottle 100 that has been filled with water in advance by the first filling device 21A. In this second filling device 21B, target raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

On the other hand, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f may be transported to the third filling device 21C in the sterile chamber 70i via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70f and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70l.

When the bottle 100 is transported to the third filling device 21C, the other raw materials fed from the third mixing tank 55C are transferred into the bottle 100 which has been filled with water by the first filling device 21A. is filled with. In this third filling device 21C, other raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Thereafter, the bottles 100 in the sterile chamber 70h and the bottles 100 in the sterile chamber 70i are both sent to the cap attachment device 16 via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70l, via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70j. The cap attachment device 16 is a device that closes the bottle 100 by attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100. In the capping device 16, the bottle 100 filled with water, the target raw material, or other raw materials (contents) is closed with a cap 88, and the bottle 100 is sealed to prevent outside air and microorganisms from entering. In the cap attachment device 16, the caps 88 are attached to the mouths of the plurality of bottles 100 filled with contents while being rotated (revolving). By attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100 in this manner, a product bottle 101 is obtained (see FIG. 1B).

The cap 88 is sterilized in advance by the cap sterilizer 18. The cap sterilizer 18 is disposed, for example, outside the sterile chamber 70j and near the cap attachment device 16. In the cap sterilizing device 18, a large number of caps 88 brought in from the outside of the content filling system 10 are collected in advance and transported in a line toward the cap mounting device 16 by the cap transport path 18A. While the cap 88 is on the cap conveyance path 18A toward the cap mounting device 16, hydrogen peroxide gas or mist is blown toward the inner and outer surfaces of the cap 88, and then the cap 88 is dried with hot air and sterilized.

The product bottle unloading section 25 continuously unloads the product bottles 101 to which the caps 88 have been attached by the cap attaching device 16 to the outside of the content filling system 10 .

Next, in the example shown in FIG. 16, the first filling device 21A is placed in the sterile chamber 70f. Water is fed from the first mixing tank 55A to the first filling device 21A. Further, a sterile chamber 70h is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70f in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a second filling device 21B is disposed within this sterile chamber 70h. Then, the target raw material is fed from the second mixing tank 55B to the second filling device 21B.

Further, a sterile chamber 70i is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70h in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a third filling device 21C is disposed within this sterile chamber 70i. Then, other raw materials are sent from the third mixing tank 55C to the third filling device 21C. Further, a sterile chamber 70j is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70i in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a cap mounting device 16 is disposed within the sterile chamber 70j. Further, an outlet chamber 70g is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70j in the transport direction of the bottle 100.

Note that the first filling device 21A, the second filling device 21B, and the third filling device 21C are all composed of rotary fillers having a plurality of rotatable filling nozzles 21a. Further, a sterile chamber 70m is provided adjacent to the sterile chambers 70f, 70h, and 70i, and the transport wheel 12 is disposed within this sterile chamber 70m.

In FIG. 16, a bottle 100 that has been sterilized in advance on the upstream side is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the first filling device 21A in the sterile chamber 70f. In the first filling device 21A, the empty bottle 100 is filled with water sent from the first mixing tank 55A. In this first filling device 21A, water is filled into the inside of the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Next, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f is sent to the sterile chamber 70h via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70f and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70m, and then via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70h to the second filling device. It is transported to 21B. In the second filling device 21B, the target raw material sent from the second mixing tank 55B is filled into a bottle 100 that has been filled with water in advance by the first filling device 21A. In this second filling device 21B, target raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Next, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70h is sent into the sterile chamber 70i via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70h and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70m, and then transported to the third filling device 21C. When the bottle 100 is transported to the third filling device 21C, the other raw materials sent from the third mixing tank 55C are filled into the bottle 100 that has been filled with water and the target raw material in advance. Ru. In this third filling device 21C, other raw materials are filled into the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Thereafter, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70i is sent to the cap attachment device 16 in the sterile chamber 70j via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70i and the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70m. The cap attachment device 16 is a device that closes the bottle 100 by attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100. In the cap attachment device 16, the bottle 100 filled with water, the target raw material, and other raw materials (contents) is closed with a cap 88, and the bottle 100 is sealed to prevent outside air and microorganisms from entering. In the cap attachment device 16, the caps 88 are attached to the mouths of the plurality of bottles 100 filled with contents while being rotated (revolving). By attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100 in this manner, a product bottle 101 is obtained (see FIG. 1B).

The cap 88 is sterilized in advance by the cap sterilizer 18. The cap sterilizer 18 is disposed, for example, outside the sterile chamber 70j and near the cap attachment device 16. In the cap sterilizing device 18, a large number of caps 88 brought in from the outside of the content filling system 10 are collected in advance and transported in a line toward the cap mounting device 16 by the cap transport path 18A. While the cap 88 is on the cap conveyance path 18A toward the cap mounting device 16, hydrogen peroxide gas or mist is blown toward the inner and outer surfaces of the cap 88, and then the cap 88 is dried with hot air and sterilized.

The product bottle unloading section 25 continuously unloads the product bottles 101 to which the caps 88 have been attached by the cap attaching device 16 to the outside of the content filling system 10 .

Next, in the example shown in FIG. 17, the first filling device 21A is placed in the sterile chamber 70f. Water is fed from the first mixing tank 55A to the first filling device 21A. Further, a small sterile chamber 70h is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70f in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a second filling device 21B is disposed within this sterile chamber 70h. Then, the target raw material is fed from the second mixing tank 55B to the second filling device 21B.

Furthermore, a sterile chamber 70n that accommodates the transport wheel 12 is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70h in the transport direction of the bottle 100. Further, a small sterile chamber 70i is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70n in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a third filling device 21C is disposed within this sterile chamber 70i. Then, other raw materials are sent from the third mixing tank 55C to the third filling device 21C. Further, a sterile chamber 70j is provided downstream of the sterile chamber 70i in the transport direction of the bottle 100, and a cap mounting device 16 is disposed within the sterile chamber 70j. Further, an outlet chamber 70g is provided on the downstream side of the sterile chamber 70j in the transport direction of the bottle 100.

Note that the first filling device 21A is composed of a rotary filler having a plurality of rotatable filling nozzles 21a. Further, the second filling device 21B and the third filling device 21C are filling devices for filling contents with a small amount of filling, and include a fixed amount type filling nozzle 21b fixed on the mouth of the bottle 100 and a filling device 21C. It includes a nozzle 21c.

When the bottle 100 reaches the filling nozzle 21b, the bottle 100 is detected by near infrared rays, and only while the mouth of the bottle 100 passes under the filling nozzle 21b, the bottle 100 is exposed to the filling nozzle 21b. Contents are filled intermittently into each bottle. Note that the second filling device 21B and the third filling device 21C may have a filling nozzle 21b and a filling nozzle 21c that do not fill the contents intermittently but continuously. The filling nozzle 21a and the filling nozzle 21b may be installed upstream of the filling nozzle 21a made of a rotary filler, or one or more of them may be installed upstream and downstream. The same liquid may be filled from the second filling device 21B and the third filling device 21C.

In FIG. 17, a bottle 100 that has been sterilized in advance on the upstream side is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the first filling device 21A in the sterile chamber 70f. In the first filling device 21A, the empty bottle 100 is filled with water sent from the first mixing tank 55A. In this first filling device 21A, water is filled into the inside of the bottles 100 while the plurality of bottles 100 are being rotated and conveyed.

Next, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70f is transported via the transport wheel 12 to the second filling device 21B in the sterile chamber 70h. In the second filling device 21B, the target raw material sent from the second mixing tank 55B is filled into a bottle 100 that has been filled with water in advance by the first filling device 21A. In this second filling device 21B, the target raw material is intermittently filled into the bottle 100.

Next, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70h is transported to the third filling device 21C in the sterile chamber 70i via the transport wheel 12 in the sterile chamber 70n. When the bottle 100 is transported to the third filling device 21C, the other raw materials sent from the third mixing tank 55C are filled into the bottle 100 that has been filled with water and the target raw material in advance. Ru. In this third filling device 21C, other raw materials are intermittently filled into the bottle 100.
Thereafter, the bottle 100 in the sterile chamber 70i is sent into the sterile chamber 70j, via the transport wheel 12, and then to the capping device 16.

The cap attachment device 16 is a device that closes the bottle 100 by attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100. In the cap attachment device 16, the bottle 100 filled with water, the target raw material, and other raw materials (contents) is closed with a cap 88, and the bottle 100 is sealed to prevent outside air and microorganisms from entering. In the cap attachment device 16, the caps 88 are attached to the mouths of the plurality of bottles 100 filled with contents while being rotated (revolving). By attaching the cap 88 to the bottle 100 in this manner, a product bottle 101 is obtained (see FIG. 1B).

The cap 88 is sterilized in advance by the cap sterilizer 18. The cap sterilizer 18 is disposed, for example, outside the sterile chamber 70j and near the cap attachment device 16. In the cap sterilizing device 18 , a large number of caps 88 brought in from outside the content filling system 10 are collected in advance and conveyed in a line toward the cap mounting device 16 . On the way to the cap attachment device 16, the cap 88 is blown with hydrogen peroxide gas or mist toward the inner and outer surfaces of the cap 88, and then dried with hot air and sterilized (see FIG. 1B).

The product bottle unloading section 25 continuously unloads the product bottles 101 to which the caps 88 have been attached by the cap attaching device 16 to the outside of the content filling system 10 .

Furthermore, although the first mixing tank 55A in FIGS. 11 to 17 is described as water, and the second mixing tank 55B and third mixing tank 55C are used as target raw materials or other raw materials, the present invention is not limited thereto. It is a good idea to change the order as appropriate, taking into account the ease with which the contents mix and the possibility of liquid boiling over.

Note that in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 9B and the second embodiment shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other raw materials stored in other raw material tanks 71 may be sterilized in advance by a desired method. In this case, there is no need to heat and sterilize the other raw materials stored in the other raw material tanks 71 again using the other raw material sterilization line 70. Alternatively, other sterilized raw materials may be aseptically connected from 75 in FIG. 1B using a bag-in-box, a sterile container, a sterile tank, etc., and supplied to the product liquid line in an aseptic manner.

(Other variations)
Further, in the embodiment described above, the circulation system (second circulation system) 95A is configured by the first sterilizer 62A, the third bypass line 95a, the first sterilizer 62, the second sterilizer 64, and the circulation line 95. An example (see FIG. 2A3, etc.) has been described. In this case, bacteria collected on the foreign matter removal filter 61 may be periodically sterilized by circulating water in the circulation system 95A with the first ultraviolet lamp 67a etc. turned on. Sterilization of bacteria trapped in the foreign matter removal filter 61 may be performed, for example, while the production of the product bottle 101 is stopped. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 18A, one end of the circulation line 95 may be connected between the second sterilizer 64 and the first sterilization filter 63, and the other end of the circulation line 95 is It may be connected to the mixing tank 51. Further, by changing the frequency of the pump P1, the pressure difference (differential pressure) between the pressure on the upstream side and the pressure on the downstream side of the foreign matter removal filter 61 may be changed. By changing the pressure difference (differential pressure) between the pressure on the upstream side and the pressure on the downstream side of the foreign matter removal filter 61, the bacteria collected on the foreign matter removal filter 61 are actively removed. It may be pushed out to the downstream side of the filter 61. Specifically, when sterilizing bacteria by circulating water in the circulation system 95A, even if the pressure on the upstream side of the foreign matter removal filter 61 is made 0.05 MPa or more higher than the pressure at the time of manufacturing the product bottle 101. 0.1 MPa or higher, preferably 0.1 MPa or more. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18B, if there is no problem with the structure of the filter, the bacteria collected in the foreign matter removal filter 61 may be circulated in the circulation system 95A by causing the contents to flow backwards. At this time, the difference between the primary side pressure and the secondary side pressure of the foreign matter removal filter 61 is such that both the positive pressure and the reverse pressure of the foreign matter removal filter 61 do not exceed the allowable maximum pressure.
In this way, by regularly sterilizing the bacteria collected in the foreign matter removal filter 61, even when the contents are continuously sterilized for a long time by the mixing target material sterilization line 50, the mixing target materials can be sterilized. The sterilization of the contents sterilized by the sterilization line 50 can be ensured.

(Further variations)
Further, as shown in FIG. 18C, the mixing target raw material sterilization line 50 may include a plurality of (for example, two) sterilizers 60. Thereby, even if one of the sterilizers 60 stops or the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated in one of the sterilizers 60 decreases, the sterility of the contents can be ensured by the other sterilizer 60. Further, when one sterilizer 60 is being cleaned (CIP) or sterilized (SIP), the other sterilizer 60 can be used to sterilize the contents. Therefore, the product bottles 101 can be manufactured continuously. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 18C, the configuration of the sterilizer 60 is the same as the configuration of the sterilizer 60 shown in FIG. 2A1, but the configuration is not limited thereto. Although not shown, the sterilizer 60 may be the sterilizer 60 shown in FIGS. 2A2 to 2J, for example. Moreover, when the mixing target raw material sterilization line 50 has a plurality of sterilizers 60, the sterilizers 60 that the mixing target raw material sterilizing line 50 has may be different from each other. As an example, the mixing target raw material sterilization line 50 may include a sterilizer 60 shown in FIG. 2A1 and a sterilizer 60 shown in FIG. 2A3.

(Further variations)
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the content filling system 10 is a system for filling the bottle 100 with content has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the content filling system 10 is a filling system (so-called Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS)) that molds the bottle 100 from the preform 100a by filling the preform 100a with content. It may be.

In this case, the filling device 21 may be incorporated into the bottle forming section 30, as shown in FIG. 18D. Although not shown, when molding the bottle 100 from the preform 100a by filling the preform 100a with contents, for example, the filling device 21 is incorporated into the bottle molding section 30. It's okay.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 18D, in the preform transport section 31 of the bottle forming section 30, the preform sterilizer 34a may be provided downstream of the heating section 35. The preform sterilizer 34a may be configured to sterilize the preform 100a heated by the heating section 35. The preform sterilizer 34a may be placed within the chamber 70s.

In this modification, the filling device 21 can fill the sterilized preform 100a with pressurized contents. Thereby, molding of the bottle 100 and filling of the contents into the bottle 100 can be performed simultaneously.

(Other variations)
Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, an example has been described in which the sterilizer 60 sterilizes contents whose electrical conductivity is 0.1 μS/cm or more and 20 μS/cm or less, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the content that is sterilized by the sterilizer 60 may be water with a concentration higher than 20 μS/cm. In this case, the water may be tap water or well water.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 18E, the mixing target raw material sterilization line 50 is provided upstream of the mixing tank 51, and includes a pre-stage water tank 50d that stores water (tap water, well water, etc.) and a first sterilizer. A pre-stage sterilizer 62A having the same configuration as 62 may be provided. Note that when the sterilizer 60 sterilizes tap water or the like, inorganic substances (oxides such as calcium) etc. may adhere to the surface of the first ultraviolet lamp 67a etc. (for example, the surface made of quartz glass). If inorganic matter or the like adheres to the surface of the first ultraviolet lamp 67a or the like, the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated in the sterilizer 60 may decrease. Therefore, when the amount of ultraviolet rays irradiated in the sterilizer 60 decreases, the sterilizer 60 is cleaned (CIP) and sterilized (SIP) to remove inorganic substances, etc. attached to the surfaces of the first ultraviolet lamp 67a, etc. It is preferable to do so. In this case, as described using FIG. 18C, the mixing target material sterilization line 50 may include a plurality of (for example, two) sterilizers 60. Thereby, when one sterilizer 60 is being cleaned (CIP) or sterilized (SIP), the other sterilizer 60 can be used to sterilize water. Therefore, the product bottles 101 can be manufactured continuously.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the example in which bacteria are inactivated or reduced by the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64 was explained, but the first sterilizer 62 and the second sterilizer 64, for example, By irradiating the raw materials to be mixed with ultraviolet rays of 500 mJ/cm2 or more, not only bacteria but also endotoxins can be inactivated or reduced. In this manner, according to the present embodiment, not only bacteria but also endotoxins in the raw materials to be mixed can be inactivated or reduced, so it is possible to provide a content filling system suitable for pharmaceutical manufacturing.

10 Content filling system 11 Sterilizing device 18 Cap sterilizing device 21 Filling device 21A First filling device 21B Second filling device 21C Third filling device 21a Filling nozzle 32 Blow molding section 34a Preform sterilizing device 50 Mixing target raw material sterilizing line 50A Water Sterilization line 50B Target raw material sterilization line 50a Water tank 50b Target raw material tank 50c Pure water production equipment 51 Mixing tank 51A Mixing line 52 Tank 53 Auxiliary filter 54 Tank 55 Mixing tank 55A First mixing tank 55B Second mixing tank 55C Third mixing tank 60 Sterilizer 70 Other raw material sterilization line 71 Other raw material tank 72 Raw material tank 73 Auxiliary filter 74 Raw material tank 75 Addition unit 80 Raw material sterilizer 88 Cap 100 Bottle

100a preform

Claims (7)

1. a first sterilization line that sterilizes the first content liquid;
   a second sterilization line that sterilizes the second content liquid;
   a first filling device that is connected to the first sterilization line and fills the first content liquid into the transported bottle;
   a second filling device connected to the second sterilization line and filling the second content liquid into the bottle being transported;
   The first sterilization line is further connected to a second filling device, and the second sterilization line is further connected to the first filling device.
2. A first mixing tank is interposed between the first sterilization line and the first filling device, and a second mixing tank is interposed between the second sterilization line and the second filling device. Content filling system as described.
3. The content filling system according to claim 2, wherein the first sterilization line is further connected to the second mixing tank, and the second sterilization line is further connected to the first mixing tank.
4. The content filling system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first mixing tank is further connected to the second filling device, and the second mixing tank is further connected to the first filling device.
5. a third sterilization line that sterilizes the third content liquid;
   The content filling system according to claim 1, further comprising a third filling device connected to the third sterilization line and filling the third content liquid into the bottle being transported.
6. The content filling system according to claim 5, wherein the second filling device and the third filling device are arranged in series on the downstream side of the bottle conveyance direction with respect to the first filling device.
7. The content filling system according to claim 5, wherein the second filling device and the third filling device are arranged in parallel on the downstream side of the bottle conveyance direction with respect to the first filling device.

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