JPH02269620A - Drying method and device for disinfectant on packaging filling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce a heat quantity which is required for drying by a method wherein a germfree drying chamber is constituted of a tightly-closed drying chamber for which an entrance and exit for feeding and discharging are provided, and at the sealed off drying chamber, electromagnetic wave is irradiated to a packaging material or container to dry a disinfectant. CONSTITUTION:From a container feeding part A, a container is fed to a conveyor 2 in a germfree chamber 1. At a sanitizer applying part B, a sanitizer is applied to the container, and at an ultraviolet sanitizing part C, ultraviolet ray is irradiated. The container (a) which has passed through the ultraviolet radiation process is dried at an electromagnetic wave drying part L, and further dried at a hot air drying part M, and is transferred to a filling part. That is, when the container (a) arrives the electromagnetic wave drying part L, two sheaths 4, 5 approach by the operation of cylinders 6, 7, and a sealed off chamber 10 is formed. Then drying air is fed to a drying air guiding cylinder from a drying air feeding pipe 15, and microwave is irradiated toward the container (a) from a microwave radiation nozzle 16. By doing this, the required heat quantity becomes smaller.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for drying a disinfectant in a packaging/filling machine, which is used in a process of drying a disinfectant in a food/drink filling machine.

(Prior technology) In recent years, the main method of sterilization and sterilization of packaging materials has been to attach a sterilizing agent to the packaging material in an aseptic filling machine, irradiate it with ultraviolet rays, and then remove the sterilizing agent by evaporating it with high-temperature air. As a result, food and beverages that can be stored at room temperature for long periods of time have been changed.

The actual sterilization method involves immersing the packaging material in hydrogen peroxide, then irradiating it with ultraviolet rays, and then heating and drying it with high-temperature air.
Although this was an initial method, immersing the packaging material could cause deterioration of the packaging material, so a method was used in which hydrogen peroxide, a disinfectant, was sprayed onto the surface of the packaging material.

In this method, the sterilizing effect can be changed even if the sterilizing agent is applied evenly, even if the sterilizing agent is applied very thinly. sterilization method using
A sterilization method using high-temperature atomization of hydrogen peroxide as seen in Japanese Patent No. 11165 was proposed.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) According to the conventional methods as described above, sterile heated air is required to dry the disinfectant. Therefore, there are the following drawbacks.

■ In general, in filling machines that use roll-shaped packaging materials, the drying stage is configured by adding tension to the packaging material in order to ensure the drying process using heated drying air, and in filling machines that use containers, To dry the sterilizing material, heated sterile air is blown from above the container to form a drying stage, but a large amount of heated sterile air is required and the equipment is too large as a peripheral device.

■ Creating high-temperature air requires large air heating peripheral equipment for the filling machine, but in this case, a large heater is required for aseptic heating, making it necessary to rely on large-capacity electric heaters or gas fuel combustors. Since there is no drying efficiency, there are problems such as fire danger and low drying efficiency compared to electricity consumption.

■ Even if heated sterile air is supplied to containers, etc., there are problems such as the upper corners of the shape of the container and the difficulty of making the flow of heated sterile air uniform, so it is difficult to dry the sterilizer. There were concerns.

In particular, those that use hydrogen peroxide are problematic because they cause deterioration of the quality of the food, and a sufficient drying process is required.

For this reason, there was a drawback that the entire filling machine became large.

■ Temperature control is important when heating air drying containers made of synthetic resin, etc., because if the heated air is too high, the container will deform due to the heat.

Especially when trying to maintain a high temperature due to problems with drying time,
There is a problem in that malfunction of the heater causes unbalanced heating of the heated air, making it difficult to adjust as deformation may or may not occur when processing a large number of containers.

Even if an expensive heat-resistant material is used for the container in order to prevent thermal deformation due to the heated air, this has its limits.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for drying a sterilizer in a packaging/filling machine, which eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional sterilization method using heated sterile air and significantly reduces the amount of heat required for drying. The purpose is to

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides the following method and apparatus for drying a disinfectant in a packaging/filling machine.

In other words, when sterilizing packaging materials or containers in a packaging/filling machine, a sterilizing agent is attached to the packaging material or container and then drying is performed using a closed drying system that has an entrance/exit for supplying and discharging sterile dry air. A method for drying a sterilizer in a packaging and filling machine, which is characterized by drying the sterilizer by irradiating the packaging material or container with electromagnetic waves in a room, and a method for drying the sterilizer in the packaging and filling machine. The device for drying the product after adhering the agent is composed of an electromagnetic wave irradiation nozzle that irradiates the packaging material or container with electromagnetic waves, a sterile dry air supply port, and a closed drying chamber equipped with its discharge port. This is a sterilizer drying device for a packaging and filling machine, which is characterized by the following.

Furthermore, in the above method and apparatus, a step of irradiating ultraviolet rays is added, the inner wall of the closed drying chamber is a shielding and/or reflecting wall for electromagnetic waves, and microwaves or infrared rays are used as the electromagnetic waves. It is something to do.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-143173 proposes a method for manufacturing packaging materials that uses ultraviolet rays for drying, and in terms of drying moisture, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 50-13959 uses microwaves. Although there are publications, none of them are aimed at reducing the amount of heat required for drying as much as the present invention.

(Function) According to the present invention, in sterilizing packaging materials or containers in a packaging and filling machine, after applying a sterilizing agent to the packaging material or container, the packaging material or container is irradiated with electromagnetic waves when drying it. It dries.

(Example) The embodiments shown in the drawings will be described below.

First, a conventional aseptic filling device for containers will be explained with reference to FIG.
C), a heated air drying section (D), a filling section (E), a lid supply section (F), a lid sealing section (G), and a conveyor (2) installed in a sterile room (1). A container (a) is supplied from a container supply section (A) toward
Next, it is irradiated with ultraviolet rays in the ultraviolet irradiation sterilization section (C), and further dried with heated air in the heated air drying section (D).

The dried container (a) is filled with the liquid content in the filling part (E), and then the lid (b) is supplied to the container in the lid supply part (F), and the lid is sealed in the lid seal part (G). It has become.

A conventional aseptic filling device for packaging materials is as shown in FIG. A sterilizer is applied through a guide roll in a sterilizer application section (B) and dried in a drying section (D).

The dried packaging material is formed into a cylindrical shape and filled with the liquid in the filling section (E), and the container filled with the liquid is discharged from the container discharge section ('G), where it is transferred to the next hexagonal forming conveyor section. (H
) to be formed into a perfect cube and discharged.

In the sterilization of packaging materials or containers in the above-mentioned packaging and filling machine, the present invention involves applying electromagnetic waves to the packaging material or container when drying it after adhering a sterilizing agent to the packaging material or container. This is what I did.

First, the container packaging and filling machine will be explained with reference to FIG.
At B) a disinfectant is applied to the container. The container coated with the disinfectant is irradiated with ultraviolet light in the ultraviolet sterilization section (C).

The container (a) that has passed the step of irradiating ultraviolet rays is dried in the next electromagnetic wave drying section (L) which is a feature of the present invention, further dried in the heated air drying section (M), and then transferred to the filling section (not shown). It is now possible to do so.

Therefore, the specific configuration of the electromagnetic wave drying section (L) will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.3.

(4) and (5) are the upper and lower exteriors, which are movable up and down on the cylinder shafts (8) and (9) of the cylinders (6) and (7), and are open on the transfer direction side of the conveyor (2), and the side that is perpendicular to this In this case, the upper sheath (4) and the lower sheath (5) are superimposed on each other to form a partially closed chamber (10).

There is a partition plate (11) in the upper exterior (4), on which a microwave generator (12) is located.

In addition, a dry air guide tube (1) is installed below the center of the partition plate (11).
3) is suspended, and its lower end is partitioned with punched metal (14).

A dry air supply pipe (15) is connected to the inside of the dry air guide tube (13), and a microwave irradiation nozzle (16) from the microwave generator (12) passes through the guide tube (13) to the punched metal ( 14).

Furthermore, the father side exterior (4) has a dry air outlet (17) opened below the partition plate (11), and the lower side exterior (5) has a dry air outlet (18) opened from the punched metal (14). It opens downward.

And dry air outlet (17) and dry air outlet (18)
) are open to the upper and lower exteriors perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor (2).

When the container (a), which has been sterilized in the ultraviolet sterilization section (C), comes to the electromagnetic drying section (L), the two outer containers (4) and (5), which had been vertically separated by the action of cylinders (6) and (7), are separated. are approached to form a closed chamber (10). In this case, the conveyor (2
) is an intermittent movement, so when the belt stops, the exterior (
4) The belt will be sandwiched between the openings formed in (5).

Dry air is then supplied from the dry air supply pipe (15) to the dry air guide tube (13), bypasses the inside of the container (a) through the punched metal (14), and enters the dry air outlet (17).
more excreted.

On the other hand, dry air is supplied to the lower side (5) of the electromagnetic wave drying section (L) below the conveyor through an opening facing a dry air outlet (18), not shown, and is discharged from the dry air outlet (18). Note that the dry air on the lower side (5) is not supplied (18
) may be closed as long as the next drying section is configured.

Then, a microwave irradiation nozzle (1
6) Microwaves are irradiated toward the container (a),
Container (a) is dried. When the micro-irradiation is finished, the upper exterior (4) and the lower exterior (5) are assembled into cylinders (6) (7).
), allowing the container (a) to be transferred by the conveyor (2), so that the container (a) is sent to the next heating drying section (M) and further dried.

As described above, the container that has passed through the ultraviolet sterilization section (C) is dried by the drying microwave in the electromagnetic wave drying section (L) by selectively acting on water molecules, so that the dry air can have a small heat capacity.

In the above embodiment, the partition plate (11) and the lower exterior (5
) constitutes a microwave reflector. The punched metal (14) also constitutes a reflecting plate to prevent microwaves from escaping and to make microwave irradiation more effective.

The one in Figure 4.5.6.7 is an electromagnetic wave drying device.
This figure shows a method of drying packaging material (C) in an aseptic filling machine using an infrared lamp.

That is, the packaging material (C) is passed from the packaging material supply section (A) to the guide rolls (19) (20) in chamber B, is sterilized by the ultraviolet irradiation device (C), and is further passed through the guide roll (21) to the electromagnetic wave drying device. (L), is dried in a pre-drying section CM) from a guide roll (22), and is transferred to a filling device (not shown).

Note that a device for scraping off excess disinfectant may be provided at the ultraviolet irradiation device (C).

The specific configuration of the electromagnetic wave drying device (L) is shown in Figure 5.6, in which the upper and lower exteriors (23) (24) constitute a partially closed chamber (32), and the packaging material (C ) is open in the transport direction, but in the direction perpendicular to this,
The upper and lower exteriors (23) and (24) overlap to form a sealed chamber. Further, it is preferable to leave some extra space in the passageway (33) shown in FIG. 4 to facilitate setting of the exterior.

There are reflective plates (26) (26) with curved cross sections in both the upper exterior (23) and the lower exterior (24). 25
).

The partially closed chamber (32) has a dry air supply port (28) and a dry air outlet (
31) are formed.

In addition, the packaging material (C) is placed before and after the exterior in the direction of travel of the packaging material (C).
) guide rollers (29) (30).

Therefore, when the packaging material (C) is sent to the electromagnetic wave drying device (L), the infrared rays are reflected by the reflectors (26) (26) and effectively irradiate the packaging material.

While being exposed to this infrared rays, the dry air supply port (28
) and drying air flowing through the drying air outlet (31).

(27) (27) is a transparent membrane stretched in front of the infrared lamp (25) (25), and dry air is directly applied to the infrared lamp (25)
) (25) to avoid cooling the infrared lamp by touching it.

In the embodiment, an infrared lamp is used, but when microwaves are used, the above-mentioned transparent film (27) for preventing cooling on the lamp surface is not required.

In addition, it is better to heat the drying air in the electromagnetic wave drying device to above room temperature (in the pre-drying section (M), it is better to dry with heated sterile air.

In any case, in any case of Examples 1 and 2, it is effective to irradiate electromagnetic waves and heat the sterile air above room temperature when supplying sterile air to avoid solidification of evaporated water. It is true.

In addition, when irradiating electromagnetic waves, in order to prevent the electromagnetic waves that have passed through packaging materials and containers from escaping outside, the electromagnetic waves should be blocked with a shielding wall or reflected to make effective use of the electromagnetic waves. It is desirable to provide a shielding or reflective wall on the packaging material at the electromagnetic wave irradiation stage or on the outside of the container.

The nozzle for generating electromagnetic waves such as microwaves, and the blocking and reflecting walls may be of a type that moves as the container is transported over a certain distance, and the electromagnetic wave generating nozzle in the container is preferably configured to face the inside of the container.

In addition, it is preferable that the reflective wall is formed in a concave shape to form a reflective space and prevent leakage of electromagnetic waves from the gap between the packaging material or container and the end of the reflective wall.

Furthermore, when an infrared lamp is used to dry a container, the space between the inner wall of the container and the protective film for preventing cooling must be designed so as not to impede the flow of drying air.

(Effect of the invention) According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.

(a) Even in places where heating of sterile air is required, the heating temperature can be kept at room temperature, the required amount of heat is small, and there is no need to use gas fuel combustion, and there is no risk of fire.

(b) Even if there are corners due to the shape of the container, the electromagnetic waves can reach even the finer parts and prevent the disinfectant from drying out.

(c) Instant evaporation of water by intensive heating reduces the drying process. Therefore, the filling machine can be configured more compactly than before.

(d) In heated air drying of containers using synthetic resin, etc.
Temperature control was important because if the heated air was too high, the container would deform due to the heat, but now there is no need for temperature control and the container does not deform.

(e) In order to prevent thermal deformation due to heated air, it is not necessary to use an expensive heat-resistant material for the container.

This increases the degree of freedom regarding the material, wall thickness, and shape of the container.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the method and apparatus of the present invention in a container packaging and filling machine; Fig. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic wave drying section of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the same; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electromagnetic drying device of the present invention in a packaging and filling machine. Fig. 6.7 is a partial view of the same and a partially cutaway perspective view. It is an explanatory view showing an aseptic filling machine. (4... Upper exterior (5... Lower exterior (6 (7) . . . Cylinder (10... Partially closed chamber (12... Microwave generator ( 13...Dry air guide tube (14...Punch metal (15)...Dry air supply pipe (16)...Microwave irradiation nozzle (17) (
1B)...Dry air outlet (23)...Upper exterior (24)...Lower exterior (25)...Infrared light (26)...Reflector (28) (31) ... Dry air inlet/outlet whistle diagram

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) In the sterilization of packaging materials or containers in a packaging and filling machine, after a sterilizing agent is attached to the packaging material or container, when drying it, closed drying is provided with an entrance and exit for supplying and discharging sterile dry air. A method for drying a sterilizer in a packaging/filling machine, the method comprising drying the sterilizer by irradiating the packaging material or container with electromagnetic waves in a chamber. (2) The packaging according to claim (1), wherein the packaging material or container is irradiated with ultraviolet rays after the sterilizing agent is attached to the packaging material or container, and then electromagnetic waves are irradiated to the packaging material or container. How to dry disinfectant in a filling machine. (3) The method for drying a disinfectant in a packaging/filling machine according to claims (1) and (2), wherein the electromagnetic waves are microwaves or infrared rays. (4) When sterilizing packaging materials or containers in a packaging and filling machine, an electromagnetic wave irradiation nozzle that irradiates electromagnetic waves to the packaging materials or containers and sterile dry air is used as a device that dries the packaging materials or containers after applying a sterilizing agent. characterized by comprising a closed drying chamber provided with a supply port and its discharge port,
Disinfectant drying equipment in packaging and filling machines. (5) The sterilizer drying device for a packaging and filling machine according to claim (4), wherein the inner wall of the closed drying chamber serves as a shielding and/or reflecting wall for electromagnetic waves such as microwaves or infrared rays.