JP5784275B2 - Beverage filling method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage filling method and apparatus.

  Conventionally, an in-line system in which PET (polyethylene terephthalate) preforms are sterilized while being transported, preforms are formed into bottles using a blow molding machine, beverages are filled into the bottles, and capped to form aseptic packages. Aseptic filling methods have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  This is to spray the sterilizing agent gas on the preform before blow molding, thereby omitting drying of the sterilizing agent by heated air and to make the preform in a heated state suitable for blow molding after sterilization. .

  In addition, the vaporized germicide is attached to the preform, and the remaining germicide is discharged by a flame with a burner (see, for example, Patent Document 2). There has also been proposed a method of blow molding after heating (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  On the other hand, as a method of sterilizing the preform without using a sterilizing agent, sterilization is performed by blowing water vapor into the preform and maintaining the temperature above the glass transition temperature for a predetermined time, and immediately after that, air, nitrogen gas, etc. A method of removing water by blowing a gas is proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

JP 2001-212874 A Japanese Patent No. 3780165 JP 2008-183899 A JP 2007-111886 A

  However, when the blow molding is performed after the sterilizing gas is sprayed on the preform as in the past, the parts of the molding machine are easily corroded by the sterilizing agent.

  In addition, many acidic disinfectants including hydrogen peroxide contain a phosphoric acid-based chelating agent for concentration stabilization. If such a disinfectant enters the molding machine and vaporizes while adhering to the preform, these chelating agents may adhere to and accumulate on the molding machine, contaminating the molding machine, and contaminating the container such as a bottle as foreign matter. There is.

  In addition, if the disinfectant is discharged from the preform with a flame by a burner after the disinfectant is attached to the preform, the process / device may be complicated and expensive.

  In addition, according to the method of sterilizing the inside of the preform with water vapor without using a sterilizing agent, it is necessary to maintain the preform at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time until sterilization occurs, and a water removal step is required after sterilization. There is a problem that.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate such problems.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration.

That is, the invention according to claim 1 forms a water film on the surface of the preform (1) by spraying water vapor (W) containing no bactericide while continuously running the preform (1). The preform (1) is heated in a state of adhering to the paste, and the preform (1) is preliminarily sterilized by wet heat sterilization by drying, and the heated preform (1) is continuously blown in a blow mold (4). The container (2) is made by blow molding in the container, and the container (2) is taken out from the continuous running blow mold (4) and continuously run, while the bacteria remaining by the preliminary sterilization are sterilized. a temperature range that does not deform, after the hot water containing no fungicide was present sterilized by hot water rinsing blown onto the container, to be sealed with a lid (3) is filled with beverage (a) the vessel (2) To adopt a beverage filling method according to claim.

As described in claim 2, in the beverage filling method according to claim 1, 0.02 mg / cm ^{2 to} 1.15 mg / cm ² of each preform (1) by spraying water vapor (W). A water film can be attached within a range.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the preform (1) is molded into the container (2), the container (2) is filled with the beverage (a), and the container (2) is sealed with the lid (3). A conveying path (21 etc.) for continuously running the reform (1) and the container (2) is provided, and a nozzle (24) for spraying water vapor (W) not containing a sterilizing agent on the preform (1), and water vapor (W) The heater (19b) which heats the preform (1) sprayed with water and preliminarily sterilizes the preform by wet heat sterilization and makes it suitable for blow molding, and the heated preform (1) into the container (2) The mold (4) to be blow-molded into the container and the container (2) blow-molded with the mold (4) and heated by the heating in the preform (1) are left in the pre-sterilized bacteria. Sterilize but not to deform the container In degrees range, and the sterilizing unit for hot water rinsing (6) by blowing with warm water (H) hot water rinse nozzle (46) containing no fungicide, the beverage (a) to the sterile container (2) A beverage filling device in which a filler (39) to be filled and a capper (40) for sealing a container (2) filled with a beverage (a) with a lid (3) is provided along the transport path.

As described in claim 4, in the beverage filling device according to claim 3, 0.02 mg / cm ² to 1 is applied to each preform (1) by spraying water vapor (W) with the nozzle (24). A water film can be attached in the range of 15 mg / cm ² .

According to the present invention, a water film is formed on the surface of the preform (1) by spraying water vapor (W) that does not contain a bactericide while continuously running the preform (1), and this water film is attached. The preform (1) is heated and dried and preliminarily sterilized by wet heat sterilization, and the heated preform (1) is blow molded in a blow mold (4) that continuously runs. Then, the container (2) is made, and while the container (2) is taken out from the continuously running blow mold (4) and continuously run, the bacteria remaining by the preliminary sterilization are sterilized, but the container is not deformed. a temperature range, after the sterilization by hot water rinsing blowing hot containing no fungicide container, since it is intended to seal with the lid (3) is filled with beverage (a) the vessel (2), preliminary By performing the bacterium as moist heat sterilization, it is possible to sterilize mold having heat resistance, fungi and gram-negative bacteria, such as yeast (Salmonella, E. coli, etc.). Therefore, when filling an acidic drink, mineral water, a carbonated drink, etc., the sterilization process by this sterilization can be reduced. That is, when performing this sterilization with warm water, the amount of use and temperature can be reduced.

  In the present invention, since the main sterilization is performed by rinsing with warm water (H), the problem that hydrogen peroxide remains in the container (2) is solved, and low water such as mineral water and acidic drinks is reduced. It is suitable for filling other than acidic beverages.

Further, in the present invention, by blowing water vapor (W), when it is assumed that water was adhered to film in the range of 0.02mg / cm ² ~1.15mg / cm ² in the preform (1), the container ( 2) It is possible to prevent sterilization defects from occurring, and it is possible to prevent formation defects such as whitening, distortion, and molding unevenness from occurring in the container.

It is a partial notch front view which shows an example of the package manufactured by the filling method and apparatus which concern on this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing each process of the first half of the filling method which concerns on Embodiment 1, 2 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing each process of the second half of the filling method which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a vertical sectional view showing an example of a generator for generating hydrogen peroxide gas. It is a top view which shows the outline of an example of the filling apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing showing each process of the second half of the filling method which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the outline of an example of the filling apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated below.

<Embodiment 1>
According to the inline system in the first embodiment, the package shown in FIG. 1 can be manufactured as a final product.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the package includes a bottle 2 that is a container and a cap 3 that is a lid.

  The bottle 2 is made of PET in this embodiment. However, the bottle 2 is not limited to PET, but can be made using other resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene. A male screw 2 b is formed at the mouth 2 a of the bottle 2.

  The cap 3 is formed by injection molding or the like using a resin such as polypropylene, and the female screw 3a is formed simultaneously with the molding of the cap 3.

  The bottle 2 is filled with the sterilized beverage a in a state in which the inside has been previously sterilized. After the beverage a is filled, the cap 3 is placed on the mouth 2a of the bottle 2, and the mouth 2a of the bottle 2 is sealed by screwing the male and female screws 3a and 2b, thereby completing the package.

  The bottle 2 is formed as a container in the following procedure, and is made into a package after filling and sealing with a beverage.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the preform 1 is continuously conveyed at a desired speed.

  The preform 1 is formed as a bottomed tubular body having a substantially test tube shape by PET injection molding or the like. The preform 1 is provided with a mouth 2a similar to that in the bottle 2 shown in FIG. A male screw 2 b is formed at the mouth 2 a simultaneously with the molding of the preform 1.

  Immediately after the conveyance of the preform 1 is started, mist-like water vapor W is sprayed from the nozzle 24 onto the preform 1. Thereby, a thin film of water is formed on the surface of the preform 1.

By spraying the water vapor W onto the preform 1, a water film of 0.02 mg / cm ^{2 to} 1.15 mg / cm ² is deposited on each preform 1. When the adhesion amount of water is less than 0.02 mg / cm ² , dry heat sterilization is performed, and a sufficient sterilization effect cannot be obtained even by subsequent heating as shown in FIG. Also, if the amount of water adhering is greater than 1.15 mg / cm ² , defective molding of whitening, spots, wrinkles, and deformation will occur when the bottle is blow molded as shown in FIG. It becomes easy.

Adhesion amount of water to the preform 1, more preferably, is ^{0.07mg / cm 2 ~0.46mg / cm 2} .

  As shown in FIG. 2B, a heater 19b is arranged in a tunnel shape along the conveyance path of the preform 1, and the preform 1 is heated while traveling by the heater 19b. The preform 1 is uniformly heated from about 90 ° C. to about 120 ° C. by this heating, and is brought into a heating state suitable for blow molding.

  At the time of heating, the preform 1 is suspended in an upright state (or an inverted state) by inserting a spindle (or mandrel) 43 into the mouth portion 2 a and rotated together with the spindle (or mandrel) 43. Heated uniformly at 19b.

  Further, the surface of the preform 1 is preliminarily sterilized by this heating process. That is, by drying while heating the preform 1 in a state where a water film is attached, the process which is originally in a dry heat sterilization state is changed to a wet heat sterilization state, and heat resistance that is not sterilized at all in the dry heat state. Molds and the like that are easily sterilized are also sterilized. Thereby, fungi such as heat-resistant mold and yeast, and Gram-negative bacteria such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli attached to the surface of the preform 1 are suitably sterilized.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (C), the preform 1 that has been brought into a heating state suitable for blow molding by heating and pre-sterilized is subjected to blow molding and formed into a bottle 2 as a container.

  The mold 4, which is a mold for blow molding, is continuously clamped while continuously running at the same speed as the preform 1, and blow molding is performed on the preform 1 in the mold 4. After that, the mold is opened.

  The preform 1 is heated almost uniformly in the heating step shown in FIG. 2B so that the entire temperature rises to a temperature range suitable for molding. As shown in C), the entire spindle 43 is mounted in the mold 4. The blow nozzle 5 passes through the upper part of the mold 4 and the spindle 43 in the mouth portion 2 a of the preform 1 and is inserted into the preform 1.

  While the mold 4 is traveling, for example, primary blow air or secondary blow air is sequentially blown into the preform 1 from the blow nozzle 5, so that the preform 1 is finally molded in the cavity C of the mold 4. Expands to bottle 2 of the product.

  When the bottle 2 is molded in the mold 4 in this way, the mold 4 is opened while traveling, and the finished product of the bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4 as shown in FIG. .

  The bottle 2 is continuously sterilized as shown in FIG. 3 (E) while continuously running after molding. The main sterilization is performed by spraying a mist M of hydrogen peroxide or a gas G, which is a sterilizing agent, from the sterilizing nozzle 6. The sterilizing nozzle 6 is disposed so as to face the mouth portion 2a of the preform 1. The hydrogen peroxide mist M or gas G discharged from the sterilizing nozzle 6 enters the bottle 2 from the bottle mouth 2a and sterilizes the inner surface of the bottle 2.

  Further, a tunnel 44 is formed at the continuous running portion of the bottle 2, and the mist M or gas G of hydrogen peroxide discharged from the sterilizing nozzle 6 stays in the tunnel 44, thereby effecting the outer surface of the bottle 2. Sterilize.

  Hydrogen peroxide mist M or gas G can be generated by, for example, the generator 7 shown in FIG.

  The generator 7 includes a hydrogen peroxide supply unit 8 that is a two-fluid spray that supplies an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide that is a sterilizing agent in the form of drops, and a hydrogen peroxide supply unit 8 that supplies hydrogen peroxide. A vaporizing section 9 that vaporizes the spray by heating it to a non-decomposition temperature equal to or higher than its boiling point. The hydrogen peroxide supply unit 8 introduces an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and compressed air from the hydrogen peroxide supply channel 8a and the compressed air supply channel 8b, respectively, and sprays the aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide into the vaporization unit 9. ing. The vaporizing section 9 is a pipe having a heater 9a sandwiched between inner and outer walls, and the hydrogen peroxide spray blown into the pipe is heated and vaporized. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas G is ejected as condensation mist M from the discharge nozzle 9 b to the outside of the vaporizing section 9.

  The mist M shown in FIG. 3 (E) is this condensed mist. When the gas G is used instead of the mist M, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, a conduit 42 through which hot air H flows is connected to the tip of the discharge nozzle 9b, and the condensed mist M discharged from the discharge nozzle 9b is What is necessary is just to gasify with this hot air H and to make this gas G flow to the said sterilization nozzle 6 with a flexible hose or the like.

  The sterilizing nozzle 6 may be installed at a fixed position on the conveyance path of the bottle 2 or may be moved synchronously with the bottle 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (E), the mist M or gas G of hydrogen peroxide blown from the sterilizing nozzle 6 contacts the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 2, while the bottle 2 is in the stage of the preform 1. Since the applied heat remains and is maintained at a predetermined temperature, it is sterilized efficiently. When the preform 1 is made of PET, the predetermined temperature is desirably 40 ° C to 75 ° C, and more desirably 50 ° C to 75 ° C. When the temperature is lower than 40 ° C, the bactericidal property is remarkably lowered, and when the temperature is higher than 75 ° C, the molding machine may fail.

  Even after the spraying of the hydrogen peroxide mist M or the gas G, the bottle 2 continuously runs and is subjected to air rinsing as shown in FIG. Air rinsing is performed by blowing sterile air K into the bottle 2 from the nozzle 45, and foreign matter, hydrogen peroxide, and the like are removed from the bottle 2 by the flow of the sterile air K. At that time, the bottle 2 is brought into an upright state. However, it is good also as an inverted state as needed.

  As described above, since the bottle is sterilized with hydrogen peroxide after preliminary sterilization at the preform stage, the amount of hydrogen peroxide used is small. Therefore, a hot water rinsing step for washing away hydrogen peroxide adhering to the bottle with water such as hot water after air rinsing is not necessary. However, there is no problem with aseptic water rinsing.

The hydrogen peroxide mist M or gas G used in this sterilization is as follows.
1) When using hydrogen peroxide mist M: In order to sterilize a bottle by performing only the conventional main sterilization, it is necessary to attach hydrogen peroxide in an amount of 50 μL / 500 mL bottle to 100 μL / 500 mL bottle to the bottle. However, when the preform was pre-sterilized as in the present invention, the sterilization effect Log 6 can be achieved by attaching the hydrogen peroxide mist M in an amount of 30 μL / 500 mL bottle to 50 μL / 500 mL bottle. did it.
2) When using the hydrogen peroxide gas G: In order to sterilize the bottle by performing only the conventional main sterilization, it is necessary to spray the hydrogen peroxide gas G having a gas concentration of 5 mg / L to 10 mg / L onto the bottle. However, when the preform was pre-sterilized as in the present invention, the sterilization effect Log 6 could be achieved by spraying the hydrogen peroxide gas G having a gas concentration of 1 mg / L to 5 mg / L. .

  After air rinsing, as shown in FIG. 3 (G), the beverage a is filled into the bottle 2 from the filling nozzle 10 and sealed with the cap 3 as a lid, as shown in FIG. 3 (H).

  Thus, the bottle 2 made into a package is collected and carried out to the market.

  A filling apparatus for carrying out the filling method is configured as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 5, this filling apparatus includes a preform feeder 11 that sequentially feeds a bottomed cylindrical preform 1 having a mouth 2a (see FIG. 2A) at a predetermined interval, and blow molding. A machine 12 and a filling machine 13 for filling and sealing the beverage a in the molded bottle 2.

  Between the preform feeder 11 and the filling machine 13, a preform conveying means for conveying the preform 1 (see FIG. 2A) on the first conveying path and a finished product-shaped cavity of the bottle 2. A mold conveying means for conveying a mold 4 having C (see FIG. 2C) on a second conveyance path connected to the first conveyance path, and a bottle 2 molded by the mold 4 A bottle transporting means for transporting on a third transport path connected to the second transport path is provided.

  The first conveying path of the preform conveying means, the second conveying path of the mold conveying means, and the third conveying path of the bottle conveying means communicate with each other, and the preform 1 is placed on these conveying paths. And a gripper (not shown) that conveys the bottle 2 while holding it.

  The preform conveying means includes a preform conveyor 14 that sequentially supplies the preform 1 at a predetermined interval on the first conveying path. Further, a row of wheels 15, 16, 17, and 18 for receiving and conveying the preform 1 from the end of the preform conveyor 14, and a conveyor 19 for receiving and running the preform 1 from the wheel 18 are provided.

A nozzle 24 for spraying water vapor W is provided slightly upstream of the preform conveyor 14 in the preform feeder 11 where the preform conveyor 14 is connected to the wheel 15. Water vapor W is sprayed from the nozzle 24 toward the preform 1 before heating (see FIG. 2A). Thereby, a thin water film is uniformly formed on the surface of the preform 1. As the nozzle 24, a two-fluid nozzle that sprays water using compressed air can be used. By this nozzle 24, each preform 1 is desirably 0.02 mg / cm ^{2 to} 1.15 m.
g / cm ^2, more preferably water film of 0.07mg / cm ² ~0.46mg / cm ² is deposited.

  The nozzle 24 can also be installed at a fixed position on the outer periphery of the wheel 18 before the preform 1 reaches the conveyor 19, for example.

  The conveyor 19 has an endless transport chain extending in the horizontal direction, and a heating unit 19a is provided along the endless transport chain. Many spindles (or mandrels) 43 shown in FIG. 2B are attached to the endless transport chain at a constant pitch. Each spindle (or mandrel) 43 can rotate while traveling along with the traveling of the endless conveyance chain. As shown in FIG. 2 (B), a spindle (or mandrel) 43 is inserted into the preform 1 sent from the wheel 18 side to the conveyor 19 through its opening 2a, and the spindle (or mandrel) 43 is in an upright state. Retained.

  The preform 1 is received by the conveyor 19 via the preform conveyor 14 and the rows of wheels 15, 16, 17, and 18, and reciprocally moves in the heating unit 19 a by the conveyor 19. A heater 19b (see FIG. 2B) is stretched around the inner wall surface of the heating unit 19a, and the preform 1 conveyed by the conveyor 19 is heated by the heater 19b. The preform 1 rotates on the conveyor 19 as the spindle (or mandrel) rotates, and is uniformly heated by the heater 19b.

The water film adhering to the surface of the preform 1 is also heated by the heating by the heater 19b. Water The coating is preferably as described above ^{0.02mg / cm 2 ~1.15mg / cm 2} , more desirably at ^{0.07mg / cm 2 ~0.46mg / cm 2} , moist heat sterilized by the heat Therefore, most bacteria other than the spore-forming bacteria having high heat resistance attached to the surface of the preform 1 can be sterilized.

  That is, the preform 1 is heated to 90 ° C. to 120 ° C. in approximately 15 seconds to 30 seconds except for the mouth by heating at the heating unit 19a. On the other hand, most bacteria other than spore-forming bacteria are known to die when heated at 80 ° C. for 10 minutes. When this is calculated at Z = 5 ° C., the bactericidal effect is equivalent to the case of heating at 90 ° C. for 6 seconds. Therefore, when the preform 1 is heated by the heating unit 19a as described above, it can be said that most of the bacteria other than the spore-forming bacteria attached to the surface thereof are killed.

  The blow molding machine 12 receives a preform 1 heated by the heating section 19a of the preform supply machine 11 and sets a plurality of molds 4 and blow nozzles 5 (see FIG. 2C) that heat-mold the bottle 1 into the bottle 2. Prepare.

  In the blow molding machine 12, the second conveying path of the mold conveying means passes. This second transport path is constituted by a row of wheels 20, 21, 22, 17, and 23. The wheel 17 is shared between the rows of the wheels 20, 21, 22, 17, 23 and the rows of the wheels 15, 16, 17, 18 of the preform conveying means.

  A plurality of molds 4 and blow nozzles 5 are arranged around the wheel 21, and turn around the wheel 21 at a constant speed as the wheel 21 rotates.

  When the gripper (not shown) of the wheel 20 receives the preform 1 heated by the heating unit 19a of the preform feeder 11 together with the spindle 43 and transfers it to the mold 4 around the wheel 21, the split mold 4 is closed. The preform 1 is gripped as shown in FIG. The preform 1 in the mold 4 is formed into a finished product of the bottle 2 by being blown with the high pressure air for blow molding from the blow nozzle 5 while turning around the wheel 21 together with the mold 4 and the blow nozzle 5. The As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the preform 1 is uniformly heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater 19b, so that it is smoothly blow-molded.

As described above, the amount of water the water film adhering to the preform 1 is preferably ^{0.02mg / cm 2 ~1.15mg / cm 2} , more preferably 0.07mg / cm ² ~0.46mg / Since it is cm ² , the bottle 2 is appropriately blow-molded without causing whitening, spots, deformation or the like.

  When the preform 1 comes into close contact with the cavity C of the mold 4 and the bottle 2 is formed, the mold 4 is opened when it comes into contact with the wheel 22, and the bottle 2 and the spindle 43 are released. Then, the bottle 2 is received from the spindle 43 by a gripper (not shown) of the wheel 22.

  On the other hand, the spindle 43 which has released the bottle 2 returns to the conveyor 19 via the wheel 20 and continues to hold and carry another preform 1.

  The bottle 2 that has left the blow molding machine 12 and reaches the wheel 22 is inspected for molding defects and the like by an inspection device 47 disposed on the outer periphery of the wheel 22.

  Although not shown, the inspection apparatus 47 includes bottle body inspection means for determining the quality of the body of the bottle 2, support ring inspection means for determining the quality of the support ring 2c (see FIG. 1) of the bottle 2, and the bottle 2 Bottle neck top surface inspection means for determining the quality of the neck top surface of the bottle, bottle bottom portion inspection means for determining the quality of the bottom of the bottle 2, and temperature inspection means for determining the quality of the bottle 2 by detecting the temperature of the bottle 2 It comprises.

  The bottle body inspection means, the support ring inspection means, the bottle neck top surface inspection means, and the temperature inspection means are arranged along the outer periphery of the wheel 22.

  The bottle body inspection means, the support ring inspection means, and the bottle neck top surface inspection means are not shown in the figure, but each of the bottles 2 is imaged with a lamp and a camera, processed by an image processing device, and shaped, scratched, foreign matter, It is determined whether there is an abnormality in discoloration or the like.

  Although not shown, the temperature inspection means detects the temperature of the surface of the bottle 2 with a temperature sensor, and determines that the product is defective if it does not reach the predetermined temperature. That is, the bottle 2 that has not reached the predetermined temperature may be insufficiently sterilized even if it is sterilized with hydrogen peroxide later. On the contrary, when the temperature of the bottle 2 reaches a predetermined temperature, it can be sufficiently sterilized by the subsequent sterilization with hydrogen peroxide.

  The inspection device 47 is installed as necessary. Further, the bottle body inspection means, the support ring inspection means, the bottle neck top surface inspection means, and the temperature inspection means are selected as necessary.

  When the bottle 2 is inspected, the bottle 2 is removed from the conveyance path by a rejecting device (not shown), and only the acceptable product is conveyed from the wheel 22 through the wheel 17 to the wheel 23.

  On the outer periphery of the wheel 23, a sterilization nozzle 6 (see FIG. 3E) for performing the main sterilization on the bottle 2 is disposed. The bottle 2 molded by the mold 4 is sprayed with hydrogen peroxide mist M or gas G from the sterilization nozzle 6 to sterilize the bottle 2, and fungi remaining on the surface thereof. Sterilized. The bottle 2 at this stage retains heat from the preform 1 and heat from the mold, and this heat enhances the sterilizing effect of the hydrogen peroxide mist M or gas G.

  As described above, preliminary sterilization is performed on the preform 1 at the stage of the preform 1 shown in FIG. 2B, and most microorganisms other than some heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria are sterilized by this preliminary sterilization. Is done. Therefore, the bacteria that survived in the stage of the preform 1 by spraying the hydrogen peroxide mist M or gas G on the bottle 2 and the slight bacteria mixed in the blow molding process and the conveying process are sterilized in the main sterilization. Is done.

  The sterilizing nozzle 6 may be installed not only on the outer periphery of the wheel 23 but also at a fixed position on the outer periphery of the wheels 17 and 22 as long as it can prevent corrosion by the sterilizing agent of the blow molding machine.

  In this sterilization of hydrogen peroxide with the mist M or gas G, as described above, since the preliminary sterilization is performed at the stage of the preform 1, the amount of hydrogen peroxide used can be reduced.

  The filling machine 13 has a third conveyance path of the bottle conveyance means inside. This third transport path has a row of wheels 27, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38.

  An air rinse nozzle 45 (see FIG. 3F) is disposed on the outer periphery of the wheel 27. Aseptic air is blown into the bottle 2 from the nozzle 45, and foreign matter and residual hydrogen peroxide are removed from the bottle 2.

  Further, a filler 39 for filling the aseptic bottle 2 with the beverage a is provided, and the cap 3 (see FIG. 1) is attached to the bottle 2 filled with the beverage a around the wheel 37 for sealing. A capper 40 is provided.

  In addition, since the filler 39 and the capper 40 may be the same as a well-known apparatus, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The filling device is surrounded by a chamber 41, and the inside of the chamber 41 is divided into a sterilization zone and a gray zone. The preform feeder 11 and the blow molding machine 12 are arranged in the gray zone, and the filling machine 13 is arranged in the aseptic zone.

  Air sterilized with HEPA is constantly blown into the gray zone, whereby the bottle 2 sterilized at the time of molding is conveyed to the sterilization zone without being contaminated with microorganisms.

  Next, operation | movement of a filling apparatus is demonstrated with reference to FIG.2, FIG3 and FIG.5.

  First, the preform 1 is conveyed to the heating unit 19a by the row of the preform conveyor 14 and the wheels 15, 16, 17, and 18.

Before entering the heating unit 19a, water vapor W is sprayed from the nozzle 24 shown in FIG. 5 to the preform 1 as shown in FIG. Thereby, a thin water film is formed on the surface of the preform 1. Water water film formed on the preform 1 is preferably preferably ^{0.02mg / cm 2 ~1.15mg / cm 2} , and more desirably is 0.07mg / cm ² ~0.46mg / cm ² .

  In the heating unit 19a, the preform 1 is uniformly heated to a temperature range suitable for molding while being conveyed by the conveyor 19.

  In addition, the preform 1 to which the water film is attached is preliminarily sterilized by heating at the heating unit 19a, and most microorganisms other than the bacterial spores adhering to the surface of the preform 1 are sterilized.

  The preform 1 heated and preliminarily sterilized by the heating unit 19 a is held by the mold 4 as shown in FIG. 2C when passing through the outer periphery of the wheel 21, and is blown by high-pressure air from the blow nozzle 5. In the cavity C, the bottle 2 is expanded to the finished product.

  The molded bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 4 by the gripper of the wheel 22 after the mold 4 is opened, inspected for the presence of molding defects, etc. by an inspection device, and then passed through the outer periphery of the wheel 23. As shown in FIG. 3E, hydrogen peroxide gas G or mist A is sprayed from the sterilizing nozzle 6 and subjected to the main sterilization.

  Since the heat applied by the heating unit 19 a remains in the bottle 2, the bottle 2 is effectively sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide gas G or mist A sprayed from the sterilization nozzle 6. By this sterilization, the bacteria remaining on the surface of the preform 1 are sterilized.

  The molded and sterilized bottle 2 flows from the wheel 23 to the downstream wheel 27 and is subjected to air rinsing by blowing sterile air around the wheel 27 from the nozzle 45 as shown in FIG. The

  Thereafter, the vehicle travels in the filling machine 13 while being transferred to a row of wheels 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38.

  In the filling machine 13, the bottle 2 is filled with the beverage a sterilized as shown in FIG. The bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is sealed with the cap 3 applied by the capper 40 (see FIGS. 1 and 3H) and discharged from the outlet of the chamber 41.

  As described above, since the filler 39 and the capper 40 are known devices, description of the method for filling the bottle 2 with the beverage and the method for sealing the bottle 2 is omitted.

<Embodiment 2>
As shown in FIG. 6 (E), in the second embodiment, the bottle 2 taken out from the mold 4 as shown in FIG. 2 (D) is rinsed with warm hot water H to perform the main sterilization. Done. In FIG. 6E, reference numeral 46 denotes a hot water rinsing nozzle that sprays aseptic hot water H. The temperature of the hot water H is maintained in a range where the bottle 2 is not deformed.

  As in the first embodiment, the bottle 2 is preliminarily sterilized by being sprayed with steam at the stage of the preform 1 shown in FIG. Most of the microorganisms are already sterilized. Therefore, the bacteria that survived at the stage of the bottle 2 are sterilized by the warm water rinse.

  The bottle 2 after the hot water rinsing is filled with the beverage a as shown in FIG. 6 (F) and covered with the cap 3 as shown in FIG. 6 (G).

  The filling method according to the second embodiment is suitable for producing beverages that do not require sterilization of spore-forming bacteria such as acidic beverages other than low-acid beverages, carbonated beverages, and mineral water.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the filling device for carrying out the filling method of the second embodiment is provided with a wheel 49 instead of the wheel 27 in the filling machine 13 of the filling device shown in FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. It has a structured.

  Around the wheel 49, nozzles 46 for discharging hot water shown in FIG. 6 (E) are provided at predetermined intervals together with a gripper (not shown). The gripper of the wheel 49 can be turned upside down. The gripper grips the bottle 2 shown in FIG. 2D and travels upside down as shown in FIG. The nozzle 46 travels in synchronization with the traveling of the gripper and the bottle 2 and enters the bottle 2 from the mouth portion 2a of the bottle 2 to discharge the hot water H into the bottle 2. The hot water H fills the inside of the bottle 2, sterilizes the inner surface of the bottle, and then flows out of the bottle 2 from the mouth 2a.

  After the warm water rinsing, the bottle 2 is filled with the beverage a by the filling nozzle 10 of the filler 39 while traveling around the wheel 35 (FIG. 6F). The bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is sealed with the cap 3 applied by the capper 40 as shown in FIG. 6 (FIG. 6G), and discharged out of the filling device.

  In the second embodiment, the same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The present invention can be implemented in various forms without being limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the container to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a PET bottle, and can be applied to various resin containers. Molding of the container is not limited to injection blow, and can be molded by various blow molding such as direct blow. Moreover, the conveyance means which conveys a preform and a container is not limited to the wheel conveyance apparatus shown in FIG. Various transport devices that can be transported at a predetermined transport speed in the order in which the containers are formed, for example, a belt transport device, a bucket transport device, and an air transport device can also be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Preform 2 ... Bottle 3 ... Cap 4 ... Mold 6 ... Disinfection nozzle 19b ... Heater 21 ... Wheel 24 ... Nozzle 39 ... Filler 40 ... Capper a ... Beverage G ... Hydrogen peroxide gas H ... Aseptic hot water M ... Hydrogen peroxide condensation mist W ... Water

Claims (4)

While continuously running the preform, water vapor that does not contain a bactericidal agent is sprayed to form a water film on the surface of the preform, and the preform is heated and dried with the water film attached, and dried by wet heat sterilization. and presterilizing renovation, make containers by blow molding a preform obtained by heating same in a blow mold a continuously running, while continuously traveling the container was taken out from the blow mold to the continuously running, in the preliminary sterilization Sterilize surviving bacteria but do not deform the container . After sterilizing with warm water rinse that sprays the container with warm water that does not contain germicide, fill the container with a beverage and seal it with a lid. A beverage filling method characterized by the above. In the beverage filling method according to claim 1, beverage filling method characterized by deposited by spraying of the steam, the water film in the range of 0.02mg / cm ² ~1.15mg / cm ² in each preform . A preform is formed into a container, a beverage is filled in the container, a transport path is provided for continuously running the preform and the container until the container is sealed with a lid, and a nozzle for spraying water vapor containing no bactericidal agent on the preform; , A heater that heats the preform sprayed with water vapor to pre-sterilize the preform by wet heat sterilization and that is suitable for blow molding, a mold for blow molding the heated preform into a container, and a mold In a container that has been blow-molded and remains heated by heating in the preform, sterilize the bacteria that survived by the preliminary sterilization but in a temperature range that does not deform the container, The sterilization means for rinsing with hot water by spraying with a rinsing nozzle, the filler for filling the sterilized container with the beverage, and the beverage filled Beverage filling apparatus and capper for sealing the vessel is characterized in that provided along the conveying path. In the beverage filling apparatus according to claim 3, a beverage, characterized in that deposited by blowing steam by the nozzle, the water film in the range of 0.02mg / cm ² ~1.15mg / cm ² in each preform Filling equipment.

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