JPH01279026A - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable an efficient removal of a disinfecting agent from a blank, by providing a transfer device for transferring the blank having passed through a disinfectant tank to a hot air drying device and a disinfectant removal nozzle for blasting an aseptic air to the inside of the blank through an opened end of a mandrel. CONSTITUTION:A blank 4 is made to pass through a disinfectant tank 7 by a disinfectant tank circulating device 9 and is brought to a stopping position, from which it is carried out in the direction of a transfer device 10 by a carry- out mechanism. The transfer device 10 rotates intermittently in synchronism with the disinfectant tank circulating device, whereby the blank 4 is received by the end part 18 of mandrel 17 in a stopping position and the jet of an aseptic air is delivered to the inside of the blank from a nozzle 18a. This mandrel 17 is inclined downward only 5 deg. to a horizontal shaft so as to make a smooth reception of the blank possible and remove the disinfecting agent completely from the blank by to gravitational effect coupled with the blasting action of the aseptic air.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a sterilizer for sterilizing a cylindrical blank for a paper container for storing milk or juice, for example, a so-called Goubert tube blank.

[Conventional technology] FIG. 7 shows a paper container 1 in the shape of a goubert tube.

When manufacturing this container 1, a cylindrical blank 4 of a certain length with both ends open is sterilized, and then the bottom portion 2 is formed into a flat bottom shape through heating, temporary folding, and sealing steps.

After filling the container with the desired beverage, the upper part 3 is cut and shaped as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to complete the container 1.

This container sterilization process is generally carried out by spraying a sterilizing liquid onto the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of an open blank and drying it with hot air. Furthermore, after the bottom of the blank is formed into a flat bottom shape, a sterilizing liquid is sprayed on a conveying chain and the blank is dried with hot air.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when sterilizing by spraying a sterilizing liquid, there is a risk that the sterilizing liquid will be sprayed unevenly or that the spraying force will be insufficient, resulting in poor sterilization. . On the other hand, if the entire blank is immersed in a sterilizing solution, the fear of poor sterilization is eliminated, but it is not easy to remove the sterilizing agent by subsequent hot air drying.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing device that can completely sterilize a blank and efficiently remove a sterilizing agent from the blank.

[Means for Solving the Problems 1] The sterilizer according to the present invention holds a hollow beverage container blank horizontally, rotates it intermittently, and sequentially immerses it in a sterilizer tank arranged below. A sterilizer tank that includes a tank circulation device and a plurality of mandrels that are radially arranged to carry blanks sent out from the tip when the sterilizer tank circulation device stops, and move the blanks upward from inside the sterilizer tank. rotated periodically in the upper running plane of the circulation device,
A transfer device that transfers the blank that has passed through the disinfectant tank to a hot air drying device, and an opening around the tip of this mandrel,
The mandrel is equipped with a sterilizing agent removal nozzle that blows sterile air onto the inner surface of the blank that is attached from the tip, and when the transfer device stops rotating, the mandrel is slightly lowered on the sterilizing agent tank @ ring device side. placed at an angle.

[Function 1] According to the sterilizer of the present invention, the hollow blank is entirely immersed in a sterilizer tank by the sterilizer tank circulation device, and the blank immersed in the sterilizer tank is transferred to the hot air drying device by the transfer device. be done. A disinfectant removal nozzle provided at the tip of the mandrel of this transfer device blows sterile air onto the inner surface of the blank to remove the disinfectant before transferring it to the hot air dryer. The mandrel on the side of the sterilizer tank IIJ11 device is tilted slightly downward and stopped, so that the sterilizer is effectively removed by the sterile air blown from the nozzle.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Example] Fig. 1 shows a sterilizer 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and this sterilizer is used, for example, in an acebutic filling and packaging machine for filling and packaging the goobelt-shaped container 1 shown in Fig. 7 above.

The sterilizer [5] has a sterile chamber 6, into which a hollow prismatic blank 4 is supplied from an inlet 5a on the right side of the figure via an appropriate paper feed mechanism, and sterilization is completed. The blank 4 is sent out to the next process from the outlet section 5b. Inside this sterile chamber 6, there is a sterilizer station e7 containing, for example, 'A hydrogen oxide solution, and a sterilizer l! A circulation device 9 is provided. The disinfectant tank circulation device 9 is formed, for example, in the form of a chain in which a plurality of link plates are connected in an endless manner, and holding members for holding hollow blanks horizontally at predetermined intervals are attached to the outside of the chain. When rotated intermittently by a suitable sprocket provided on the upper side of the disinfectant tank 7, the blanks 4 are sequentially immersed in the disinfectant tank 7 and pulled up from the disinfectant tank. Since the blank 4 is placed in the sterilizer tank 7 for 1 m with both horizontal ends open, the blank 4 is completely sterilized up to its inner surface.

While the disinfectant tank circulation device 9 is stopped, the blanks 4 pulled up from the disinfectant tank 1f17 are delivered to the transfer device side by an appropriate delivery mechanism, and are transferred to mandrels arranged radially around the transfer device 1°. 17 will be installed in sequence. When the blank is mounted on this mandrel, the sterilizing agent is removed by sterile air jetted from a sterilizing agent removal nozzle at the tip. After this, the blank 4 is transferred to a hot air dryer. This hot air drying device is circulated through the hot air drying tank 8 by a drying tank circulation device 11 similar to the disinfectant tank circulation device 9, and is dried with hot air jetted from a hot air jetting device 12. Then, the blank 4 that has finished drying is carried out to the next process from the blank discharge section 5b.

2 to 4 show the above-mentioned transfer device 10. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer device 10 has a mandrel mounting member 16 fixed to a drive shaft 19, and mandrels 17 are radially mounted at equal intervals around the outer circumference of this mandrel mounting member. Around the circumference of each mandrel 17, a third
As shown in the figure, four guide rails 20 each having a cross-sectional shape are arranged to guide the outer circumferential surface of the blank 4, which is fed out horizontally from the disinfectant tank circulation device, along the mandrel in the unloading system. This unloading mechanism may be of any suitable type; for example, locking pawls 31 may be attached to the chain 30 at regular intervals, one end of the blank may be locked by the locking pawl, and the blank may be conveyed by movement of the chain. . In this case, the locking pawl 31 is moved back a certain distance after conveying the blank so as not to interfere with the blank.

This transfer bag W110 is arranged to rotate within the upper traveling plane of the disinfectant tank circulation device 9 that pulls up the blanks immersed in the disinfectant tank 7, and is rotated in the direction shown by arrow B in FIG. It rotates intermittently in synchronization with the disinfectant tank circulation device 9.

In the stop position, the mandrel arranged on the side of the sterilizing tank circulation device 9 is arranged with a slight downward inclination to the horizontal axis A, in order to facilitate the removal of the sterilizing agent from the blank 4.

Moreover, the mandrel on the opposite side is similarly arranged at an angle. If the inclination of the mandrel 17 is large, the deviation from the feeding direction by the feeding mechanism becomes large, and the mandrel 17
cannot be inserted smoothly. In this example, the angle α between the axis 17a of the mandrel and the horizontal axis A was 5°, and the mandrel was arranged so that the tip of the mandrel was aligned with the delivery position of the delivery mechanism.

Further, the mandrel 17 has a rectangular tip 18 corresponding to the inner diameter of the blank 4, and germicide removal nozzles 18a are opened on each outer peripheral surface of this tip. As shown in FIG. 4, this sterilizer removal nozzle 18a is slightly inclined toward the tip, and can blow out sterile air from the air passage 21 in the opposite direction to the traveling direction of the blank 4 mounted from the tip. can.

In order to supply sterile air to this sterilizer removing nozzle 18a via the air passage 21, the transfer device 10 is attached to the fifth a.
It is formed as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5b.

A drive shaft 19 for rotating the mandrel 17 passes through the rear wall 15 of the sterilizer via a bearing 15a and an oil seal 15b, and its tip is supported by a support 23. One end of four guide rods 24 arranged around the circumference of one drive shaft is fixed to this support column 23, and a pressure spring 25 is attached to the circumference of each of these guide rods. These guide rods 24 hold a disk-shaped pressing member 22, through which the drive shaft 19 passes, so as not to rotate, and the pressing spring 25 presses the pressing surface 22a of this pressing member against the mandrel mounting member 16.

Furthermore, an air passage communicating with a supply pipe 27 for supplying sterile compressed air is formed in the pressing member 22, and an opening 27a of this air passage is formed in the pressing surface 22a. The supply pipe 27, the air passage, and the opening 27a form an air supply passage.

The mandrel mounting member 16 has a rotating plate 26 that is fixed to the drive shaft 19 and rotates together with the mandrel mounting member, and the rotating plate and the mandrel mounting member are connected to the air connecting pipe 16.
Connected by a. The rotary plate 26 has a sliding surface 26a that slides in an airtight manner against the pressing surface 22a of the pressing member, and each of these sliding surfaces is connected to the air passage 21 of the mandrel through an air connecting pipe 16a. A frontage 21a is formed. These air passages 21, air connecting pipe 16a, and opening 21a form an air guide passage.

Therefore, the opening 27a of the pressing surface 22a and the sliding surface 26a
The sterile compressed air is supplied to the supply pipe 27 of the air supply path and the opening 27a of the air supply path only when the opening 21a of the
The air is supplied to the nozzle 18a through the opening 21a of the air guide path, the connecting pipe 16a, and the air path 21.

The rotating plate 26 of the mandrel mounting member may be formed integrally with the mandrel mounting member 16, but the sliding surface 26
In this embodiment, the rotary plate 26 is made of 81 resin and is separate from the mandrel mounting member 16 in order to be able to slide on the pressing member 22 in an airtight manner. Sliding surface 2 of this rotating plate
6a and the opening 27a of the pressing surface 22a of the pressing member, when the transfer VRM is stopped and the blank 4 is mounted on the mandrel 17 disposed on the sterilization tank circulation device side, the nozzle at the tip of the blank 4 is opened. It is formed at a position where sterile air can be blown out from 18a. If necessary, sterile air may be similarly blown when the blank is removed from the mandrel.

Additionally, the mounting portion of the transfer 8110 may be configured as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b.

In this embodiment, the driving tll shaft 19 is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b.
As in the illustrated embodiment, it is supported by a support column 23, and an air guide member 40 is fixed to this support column via its flange-like base end. Inside the cylindrical tip of the air guide member 40, an air supply passage 42 extends in the axial direction, and each air supply passage 42 has an inlet opening 43 that opens on the outer peripheral surface.
and an exit frontage 44. Therefore, the sterile compressed air sent to the inlet opening 43 via the supply pipe 27 communicates with the outlet opening 44 via the air supply path 42.

On the other hand, the cylindrical member 41 is attached to the rotating plate 26 at its flange portion 4.
1a, and a cylindrical tip portion of the air guide member 40 is slidably fitted into the cylindrical portion 41b on the support column side. Air connecting pipes 16 are provided in each of the cylindrical portions 41b.
An opening 45 connected to a is formed, and this opening 4
5 is aligned with the outlet opening 44 of the air guide member 40, compressed air from the air supply pipe 27 can be communicated to the air contact pipe 16a. The space between the air guide member 40 and the cylindrical member 41 is kept airtight by a plurality of seal members 46 to prevent leakage of sterile compressed air.

In each of the above embodiments, the transfer device 10 is equipped with four mandrels, but it may also be equipped with six or eight mandrels. By using an even number of mandrels 17 in this way, the blanks can be attached and detached at the same angle.

Furthermore, when attaching the blank 4 to the mandrel 17 or at least when transferring the blank from the mandrel, sterile air is also blown to the outside of the blank to remove the sterilizing agent adhering to the outside. You can do it like this.

According to the sterilizer H of this embodiment, the blank 4 passed through the sterilizer tank 7 by the sterilizer tank circulation device 9 is sent out in the direction of the transfer device '1110 by the unloading mechanism at the pure soil position. Since the transfer device 1o intermittently rotates in synchronization with this sterilization tank circulation device, the blank 4 is moved to the mandrel 17 at the stop position.
At the same time, the inner surface is blown with sterile air from the nozzle 18a. This mandrel 17
Since it is tilted slightly downward by about 5 degrees with respect to the horizontal axis, it can be inserted cleanly, and the disinfectant can be completely removed by the action of gravity as well as the action of sterile air. Since the sterile air supplied to this nozzle 18a is supplied to the mandrel at a desired position via the pressing member 22 and the rotating plate 26,
It is not supplied to unnecessary areas and is efficiently distributed.

After the blank 4 is fully inserted onto the mandrel 17,
The transfer device 10 is further rotated, transferred to the drying tank circulation device 11, and rotated in the drying tank 8.

In the drying tank 8, since the sterilizing agent has been removed from the blank 4 by sterile air, the blank 4 is quickly dried by hot air from the hot air jetting device 12. As a result, the disinfectant, for example hydrogen peroxide, is completely removed and the drink can be filled.

[Effects] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, the entire blank can be completely sterilized by immersing it in a sterilizing agent bath, and when it is installed on the mandrel of the intermittent rotating transfer device, the blank can be placed in an inclined state. Since the sterilizing agent is removed during transport, the sterilizer can be efficiently sterilized during transportation, and the entire sterilizer can be made compact.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the entire sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a transfer device, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a blank is mounted on a mandrel of the transfer device, and FIG. The figure is an explanatory diagram of the state in which the disinfectant is removed from the blank, and Figures 5a and 5b are transfer S! 6a and 6b.
The figures are a sectional view and a perspective view schematically showing another embodiment. 7 to 9 show beverage containers to be sterilized by the sterilizer of this embodiment, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the completed state, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the upper part of the blank, and FIG. 9 is a folded perspective view. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper part in a bent state. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Beverage container, 4... Blank, 5... Sterilizer, 6... Aseptic chamber, 7... Disinfectant tank, 9...
- Disinfectant tank circulation device, 10...transfer device, 11...
Drying tank circulation device, 16... Mandrel mounting member, 17
... Mandrel, 18a... Nozzle, 19... Drive shaft, 20... Guide rail, 22... Pressing member, 2
6...Rotating member. 40... Air guide member, 41...
・Cylindrical member. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 5b Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A sterilizer tank circulation device that holds a hollow beverage container blank horizontally and rotates it intermittently to immerse it in sequence into a sterilizer tank located below, and this sterilizer tank circulation device stops. A plurality of mandrels, which are attached from the tip end, are arranged radially, and the blanks sent out when the blanks are sent out from the disinfectant tank are rotated in the upper running plane of the disinfectant tank circulation device that moves the blanks upward from the disinfectant tank. A transfer device that transfers the blank that has been rotated and passed through a sterilizer tank to a thermal drying device, and a sterilizer that opens around the tip of this mandrel and blows sterile air onto the inner surface of the blank that is loaded from the tip. and a removal nozzle, wherein the mandrel is arranged with a slight downward inclination on the side of the disinfectant tank circulation device when the transfer device stops rotating. (2) The mandrel has a guide rail that slidably supports and guides the outer peripheral surface of the blank, and the nozzle is arranged to be inclined toward the tip with respect to the axial direction of the mandrel. sterilizer. (3) A mandrel mounting member to which each proximal end of the mandrel is mounted and which rotates together with the drive shaft, a sliding surface formed on one side of the mandrel mounting member, and a sliding surface that is pressed against the sliding surface and rotates together with the drive shaft. a pressing member having a pressing surface that slides against the sliding surface; an air supply device that opens to the pressing surface; and a plurality of air guides that open to the sliding surface of the mandrel mounting member and communicate with the nozzles of each mandrel. 3. The air guide passage according to claim 2, wherein when the transfer device stops rotating, an air guide passage that communicates with a disinfectant removal nozzle of a mandrel located on the side of the disinfectant tank circulation device communicates with the air supply passage. Sterilizer. (4) A mandrel mounting member to which each proximal end of the mandrel is mounted and rotating together with the drive shaft, a cylindrical member fixed to one side of the mandrel mounting member, and a member capable of sliding within the cylindrical member. an air guide member that is fitted and fixed to a strut that rotatably supports the drive shaft; an air supply path that is formed within the air guide member and communicates with an outlet opening formed on the outer peripheral surface; A sterilizer removing nozzle of the mandrel, which is provided with a plurality of air guide passages that are open on the inner peripheral surface and communicate with the nozzles of each mandrel, and is located on the side of the sterilizer tank circulation device when the transfer device stops rotating. 3. The sterilizer according to claim 2, wherein an air guide path communicating with said air supply path communicates with said air supply path.