JPH0343330A - Sterilizing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sterilize blanks completely and to remove a bactericide efficiently from the blanks by immersing the blanks in a sterilizing tank and by removing the bactericide in a washing station and bactericide-removing station. CONSTITUTION:A sterilizing apparatus 5 is accommodated as a whole in a sterile chamber and is supplied with hollow prismatic blanks 4 opened at both ends and arranged in the horizontal direction from a supply station 6. These blanks 4 are sterilized by a sterilizing station 7 for causing the blanks to circulate successively in a sterilizing tank 13 arranged below, and thereafter washed by a washing station 8. In a bactericide-removing station 9, then, from a bactericide-removing nozzle provided at the tip of a mandrel 31, sterilized air is jetted against the insides of the blanks 4 so that a bactericide is blown off from the blanks 4. Lastly, the blanks are dried in hot-air drying stations 10, 11 and carried out from a delivery station 12 to the next process.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a sterilizer for sterilizing cylindrical blanks such as Goebel top type paper containers for storing drinks such as milk or juice. .

[Conventional technology] FIG. 10 shows a paper beverage container 1 in the form of a Gebertstrap.

When manufacturing this container 1, a cylindrical blank 4 of a certain length with both ends open is sterilized as shown in FIG.
Form into a flat bottom shape.

Thereafter, the desired beverage is filled, and the upper part 3 is formed into a gable shape, as shown in FIG. 10, to complete the container 1.

This container sterilization process is generally carried out by spraying a hydrogen peroxide solution as a sterilizer onto the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of an open blank, followed by drying with hot air. Furthermore, after the bottom of the blank is formed into a flat bottom shape, a sterilizing liquid is sprayed on the blank while it is being conveyed using a chain, and then 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 the amount of spray may be insufficient, which will result in poor sterilization. . On the other hand, if the entire blank is immersed in a sterilizing liquid, the fear of poor sterilization is eliminated, but it is difficult to remove the sterilizing agent by subsequent hot air drying, and there is a risk that the sterilizing agent may remain on the inner surface of the container. Additionally, if a chain is used as a means of transporting the blanks, it takes time to sterilize the transport chain when sterilizing the inside of the equipment.
It is difficult to sterilize efficiently.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a sterilizer that can completely sterilize a blank, efficiently remove the sterilizer from the blank, and efficiently sterilize the entire device before starting sterilization of the blank. The purpose is to provide

[Means for Solving the Problems] A sterilization device according to the present invention includes a sterilization station that sequentially circulates a hollow beverage container blank with both ends opened horizontally in a sterilization tank disposed below, and a tip end portion. A plurality of mandrels are arranged radially in which a sterile air injection nozzle is opened and the sterilized blank is fitted onto the mandrel, and the mandrels are rotated intermittently to transfer the blank to a hot air drying station, and the blank is removed from the nozzle. a disinfectant removal station that blows sterile air onto the inner surface and removes the disinfectant;
and a conveyance mechanism that transfers the blanks at each station to the next station when the blanks at each station are stopped, and the tip of this conveyance mechanism protrudes into the blank conveyance path between the stations. A plurality of claw members that swing between a feeding position and a retracted position retracted from the conveyance path, a swinging mechanism that swings these claw members, and a mechanism that moves each of these claw members toward the next station. It also has a reciprocating mechanism that moves in opposite directions.

The reciprocating mechanism includes a moving shaft to which claw members are pivotally connected at predetermined intervals, a moving rack gear attached to the moving shaft, a drive gear meshing with the moving rack gear, and a driving gear disposed side by side on the moving shaft. It is preferable that at least one of the claw members is provided with a tie rod that pivotally connects the rear end of each claw member at predetermined intervals, and at least one of the claw members includes a tongue piece disposed at a position apart from a pivot point with the moving shaft. , and a roller attached to the tongue piece, and the rocker 41. j is a guide bar that guides the roller attached to the tongue piece of the claw member in the direction along the conveyance path of the blank and in the direction crossing this;
It is preferable to have a piston-cylinder unit that moves the guide bar in a direction intersecting the conveyance path.

[Function] According to the sterilization device of the present invention, the hollow blank is completely immersed in a sterilization tank at the sterilization station, and the completely sterilized blank is immersed in the sterilization bath provided at the tip of the mandrel at the sterilization station. An agent removal nozzle blows sterile air onto the inner surface of the blank to blow the disinfectant out of the blank before it is transferred to a hot air drying station. In the hot air drying station, the entire blank is hot air dried and the disinfectant is also removed.

The transport mechanism that transports each blank between each station is
When the blank at each station is stopped, the swinging mechanism causes the tip of the claw member to protrude into the conveyance path, and the end of the blank is locked to this tip. The reciprocating mechanism moves the pawl member in this state, thereby moving each blank to the next station. After conveying the blank, the claw member is moved in the opposite direction to the original position while being placed in the retracted position.

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

[Example] Figs. 1 to 3 show 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 Goebel top type container 1 shown in Fig. 10 above. It is something that can be done.

The entire sterilizer 5 is housed in a sterile Champara a, and a hollow prismatic blank 4 with both ends open is supplied from a supply station 6 on the right side of the figure.

After this blank 4 is sterilized at the sterilization station 7,
It is cleaned at a cleaning station 8, blown off with sterilizer at a sterilizer removal station, and finally dried at a hot air drying station 10.11 before being carried out from a discharge station 12 to the next process.

Although Fig. 1 shows a two-stage sterilizer in which each station is placed side by side, it may be a single-type sterilizer in which each station is placed one at a time, or three or more stations are placed side by side. It can also be a multi-type sterilizer.

At the supply station 6 of this sterilizer, blanks 4 are placed in a flat folded state, and the flat blanks 4 are sequentially pulled out with a suction cup to form a hollow prismatic shape. FIG. 2 schematically shows an air cylinder 22 for actuating this suction cup.

The sterilization station 7 is provided with a sterilization tank 13 at the bottom that contains a 35% by weight hydrogen peroxide solution heated to about 80° C. as a sterilizer, and this sterilization Ffj1B
Inside, the blank 4 is held laterally and circulated by an endless circulation device.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, this circulation device 19 is formed, for example, in the shape of two parallel chains in which a plurality of link plates are endlessly connected, and is held at a predetermined interval on the outside of its running surface. The member 25 is attached via a link 19a. This holding member 25 is formed of four guide rails 26 each having a cross-section shaped like a cross-section for slidingly guiding the corners of the blank 4, and a pair of brackets 27 for fixing these guide rails. The chain is attached to the link 19a through the hole 27a.
, 27b are formed, respectively.

These mounting holes 27a and 27b correspond to each other so that when the holding member 25 is fixed to the link 19a, the holding member holds the blank 4 at an inclination of, for example, 2 to 5@ with respect to the horizontal axis. It is located in The guide rail 26 of the holding member 25 is preferably widened on the right artificial side as shown in FIG. 4 so that the blank 4 can be received smoothly.

When this one circulation device is intermittently rotated in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. It is immersed and then pulled out from this sterilization tank. Since the blank 4 is immersed in the sterilization tank 13 with both ends open and inclined with respect to the horizontal axis,
The sterilizer completely spreads to the inner surface of the blank 4, and uneven sterilization due to adhesion of air bubbles does not occur, and the sterilizer flows from the inside of the blank, reducing the amount remaining inside the blank.

The blank 4 that has been sterilized is sent to a cleaning station 8.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaning tank 14 containing a cleaning liquid is arranged in the cleaning station 8, and the blank 4 is held at an angle by a holding member in the same manner as in the sterilization station 7. When one circulation device is intermittently rotated by the drive shaft 21 and sprocket 18, the blanks 4 are sequentially immersed in the cleaning tank 14 and pulled up from there, and the sterilizing agent adhering to the surface flows down together with the cleaning liquid.

A certain amount of sterile water, which has been completely sterilized by a sterile filter, is stored in the cleaning tank 14 as a cleaning agent. It is preferable to maintain this sterile water at a temperature of 60° C. or higher and about 80° C. in order to remove the disinfectant more completely.

The blank 4 which has been cleaned of disinfectant at the washing station 8 is sent to the disinfectant removal station 9 while the circulation device 19 is stopped. The blank inlet and outlet of this cleaning station 8 are preferably arranged at different heights to prevent disinfectant from entering the later stations.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this disinfectant removal station 9 is provided with a disinfectant removing device 30 that blows sterile air onto the inner surface of the blank. The sterilizing agent removing device of this embodiment includes six mandrels 31 and a guide rail 32 having an angular cross section for guiding the blank onto the mandrels. These six mandrels 31 are driven 1To
They are arranged radially at equal intervals around 35 and pivot intermittently in synchronization with the circulation device of the cleaning station 8 along a plane parallel to the lower running plane of one of the circulation devices. In this rest position, the mandrel 31 is tilted downward at an angle α with respect to the horizontal axis A, with its tip aligned with the outlet side of the cleaning station 8 to facilitate the mounting of the blank 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the mandrel 31 is formed into a rectangular shape, and the blank 4 is fitted onto the tip from this tip.
is held by a guide rail 32 on the periphery. A sterile air jetting nozzle is continuously opened on the outer periphery of this tip, and when the blank 4 is fitted onto the mandrel 31, the air jetted from the sterile air jetting nozzle causes the sterilizing agent to be applied from the inner surface of the blank. water droplets are blown away.

In addition, between the sterilization station 7 and the cleaning station,
Further, a nozzle device of an appropriate structure may be provided between the cleaning station 8 and the disinfectant removal station 9 to blow sterile air onto the outer surface of the blank 4 and blow away the disinfectant adhering to the outer surface of the blank.

The blank 4 from which the sterilizer on the outer surface has been removed by the nozzle device and the sterilizer from the inner surface at the sterilizer removal station is sent to the hot air drying station 1o.

As shown in FIG. 3, this hot air drying station 10 circulates the blank 4 in a hot air drying tank 15 and circulates hot air sent from a supply pipe 28 using a circulation device 19 similar to the sterilization station 7 and the cleaning station 8. Hot air is blown out from a hot air nozzle 17 arranged along the travel path of one device to dry it. This drying tank 15 is equipped with an appropriate detection device for detecting the amount of hydrogen peroxide contained in the air inside the tank, so that it can be confirmed whether the disinfectant has been removed by the disinfectant removal station 9. It is preferable to do so.

In this embodiment, a similar hot air drying station 11 is further arranged after the hot air drying station 1o. In this hot air drying station 11, it is preferable to arrange a hot air nozzle 15 in the drying WJ 16 in the opposite direction to the drying tank 15, as shown in FIG.

After drying, the blank 4 is transferred to the cross-feed chineen 23.
The blank is sent to the blank discharge station 12, and from this discharge station 12, it is carried out to the next process by a transverse feed chain 24. Reference numeral 29 indicates that when the sterilizer 5 is stopped,
This is a blank storage tank for accommodating the blank 4 inside.

As shown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3,
Inside the sterilizer 5, a transport mechanism 40 for transporting each blank 4 to the next station is provided between the supply station 6 and the sterilizer removal station 9 and between the sterilizer removal station 9 and the discharge station 12. It is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, these transport mechanisms 40
, a plurality of claw members 41 each locking the blank 4 at their tip ends, movable shafts 44 to which the middle parts of these claw members 41 are pivotally attached at predetermined intervals, and rear ends of the claw members 41 are pivotably mounted. It has a tie rod 42 that is attached to the tie rod 42. This moving shaft 44 is guided in parallel to the conveyance path of the blank 4 by a guide roller 46 mounted on the machine frame 60. Further, the tip of the claw member 41 can be swung by a swinging mechanism between a feeding position where it protrudes into the blank conveyance path between each station and a retracted position where it is retracted from the conveyance path.
By the reciprocating mechanism 43 shown in FIG. 7, it can be moved toward the next station when placed at the feed position, and can be moved in the opposite direction when placed at the retracted position.

The swinging mechanism for swinging the claw member 41 includes a pair of guide bars 5 arranged parallel to the moving shaft 44 and the tie rod 42.
4.54, and a fixed piston that moves this guide bar in the direction toward and away from the conveyance path of the blank.
A cylinder unit 56 is provided.

In order to swing all the pawl members 41 between the feeding position and the retraction position at the same time, one pawl member 41a among the many pawl members 41 is extended in a direction away from the pivot point with the moving shaft. A roller 52 is attached to this tongue piece 41b. This roller 52 is arranged between a pair of guide bars 54, 54 of the swinging mechanism.

Each guide bar 54,54 is connected to each other at both ends and is moved by a piston-cylinder unit 56 towards and away from the conveying path of the blank 4, and in a direction transverse to the conveying path.

Furthermore, rollers 54a are attached to both ends of each guide bar 54, 54, as shown in FIG.

These rollers 54a guide the guide bar 54 along a guide plate 55 attached to the machine frame when moved by the piston-cylinder unit 56.

As shown in FIG. 7, the reciprocating mechanism 33 that moves each claw member 41 in parallel with the conveyance path of the blank is engaged with a moving rack gear 45 attached to the lower side of the moving shaft and this moving rack gear. and a matching drive gear 50. The drive gear 50 can be rotated in either direction by any suitable means, but is preferably driven by a reversible servo motor 58 as shown in FIG. Servo motor 58
By using this, the rotation of the drive gear 50 can be easily controlled in synchronization with the movement of the blank at each station.

The operation of this transport mechanism 40 is as follows.

When pivoting the pawl member to the feed position, the piston-cylinder unit 56 of the swinging mechanism is extended.

As a result, the guide bar 54 is guided by the guide plate 55 via the roller 54a and moves toward the blank conveyance path. The claw member 41a is moved by the guide bar 54 moving the roller 52 attached to the tongue piece 41b.
The pawl member 41a is pivoted in the direction of arrow B about the pivot point with the moving shaft, and this movement is transmitted to all the pawl members 41 via the tie rod 42. As a result, the tip of each claw member 41 projects into the blank conveyance path as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and is placed at the feeding position. After this, driving the servo motor 58 and moving shaft 44
6 along with the claw member 41 and tie rod 42.
move in the direction of

To return the pawl member 41 to the retracted position, the piston-cylinder unit 56 can be retracted before rotating the servo motor 58 in the opposite direction. As a result, the claw member 41a operates in the opposite direction to the above, and the claw member 41a is rotated in the direction opposite to the arrow B, and is placed in the retracted position.

In this way, by conveying the blanks within the sterilizer 5 using the conveying mechanism 40 having a simple structure, it is no longer necessary to convey the blanks to each station for opening cans using a cross-feeding chain, for example. Since the number of parts of the transport mechanism 40 is small and the structure can be easily formed, before sterilizing the blank,
When the inside of the sterilizer 5 is sterilized in advance, it can be done in an extremely short time and easily.

According to the sterilizer 5, one circulation device of the sterilization station 7, the washing station 8, and the drying station 10.degree. By driving the mechanism 30 in synchronization with this, the blanks 4 are smoothly received and transferred at each station.

According to the sterilizer of this embodiment, the blank 4 passed through the sterilizer tank 13 of the sterilizer station 7 by the circulation device 19 is completely sterilized as a whole. Thereafter, the blank 4 is sent to the cleaning station 8 by the claw member 31 of the transport mechanism 30, and in the cleaning station 8, the disinfectant adhering to the surface of the blank 4 is washed off while the blank 4 is circulated in the cleaning tank 14. Further, from the cleaning station 8, the sterilizer is sent to the disinfectant removal station 9 by the claw member 41 of the transport mechanism 40. At this transfer station 9, while the blank 4 is mounted on the mandrel 20 from the tip, sterile air from a nozzle is blown onto the inner surface of the blank to completely remove water droplets on the inner surface of the blank. Since this mandrel 20 is stopped at a slight inclination with respect to the horizontal axis A, the transfer by the transport mechanism 40 is carried out smoothly, and water droplets are completely removed by the action of gravity as well as the action of the ejected air. Ru.

In the drying station 10.11, the blank 4 is quickly dried by the hot air from the hot air nozzle 17 since the water droplets have been removed. As a result, the disinfectant, for example hydrogen peroxide, is completely removed and the drink can be filled.

When we conducted an experiment in which blanks were actually sterilized using this sterilizer to produce beverage containers, we found that the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide used as a sterilizer was 10p per 11-liter container.
The value was less than pb.

[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 tank, and the sterilizing agent is removed at the cleaning station and the sterilizing agent removal station. The sterilizer can be completely sterilized and the sterilizer can be efficiently removed from the blank, and the inside of the sterilizer can be completely and efficiently sterilized in a short period of time before sterilizing the blank.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the entire sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views showing the arrangement of the sterilizer, and FIG. 4 is a part of the circulation device that holds the blanks. , FIG. 5 is a schematic elevational view of the circulation system shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the conveyance mechanism in the sterilizer, and FIG. 8 to 10 show a beverage container to be sterilized by the sterilizer of this embodiment, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the upper part of the blank, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lower part, and FIG. The figure is a perspective view of the completed state. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Beverage container, 4... Blank, 5... Sterilizer, 6... Supply station, 7... Sterilization station, 8... Washing station, 9... Disinfectant removal station, 10.11...hot air drying station, 12...discharge station, one...circulation device,
30... Removal device with sterilization, 40... Conveyance mechanism, 41
... Claw member, 42 ... Tie rod, 44 ... Moving shaft, 45 ... Rack gear, 50 ... Drive gear.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A sterilization station that sequentially circulates a hollow beverage container blank with open ends horizontally through a sterilization tank located below, and a sterile air jet nozzle that opens at the tip and sterilizes the blank. A plurality of mandrels onto which the blanks are fitted are arranged radially and are rotated intermittently to transport the blanks to a hot air drying station, and sterile air is blown onto the inner surface of the blanks from the nozzle to remove the sterilizing agent. It is equipped with a sterilizer removal station, and a transport mechanism that transports the blanks of each station to the next station when the blanks of each station are stopped, and this transport mechanism has a tip that moves the blanks between the stations. A plurality of claw members that swing between a feed position protruding into the transport path and a retracted position retracted from the transport path, a swing mechanism that swings these claw members, and each of these claw members. A sterilizer having a reciprocating mechanism that moves toward the next station and moves in the opposite direction. (2) The reciprocating mechanism includes a moving shaft to which claw members are pivotally connected at predetermined intervals, a moving rack gear attached to the moving shaft, a drive gear meshing with the moving rack gear, and the moving shaft. 2. The sterilizer according to claim 1, further comprising tie rods arranged in parallel with each other at predetermined intervals to pivotally connect the rear end portions of the respective claw members. (3) At least one of the pawl members has a tongue disposed at a position apart from a pivot point with the moving shaft, and a roller attached to the tongue, and the swinging mechanism is configured to rotate the pawl member. A claim comprising: a guide bar that guides a roller attached to a tongue piece of the blank in a direction along and a direction crossing the conveyance path of the blank; and a piston-cylinder unit that moves the guide bar in a direction crossing the conveyance path. Item 2. The sterilizer according to item 2. (4) The swing mechanism is arranged on both sides of the roller attached to the tongue piece, and includes two guide bars whose ends are connected to each other, and a guide roller attached to each end of each guide bar. 4. The sterilizer according to claim 3, further comprising a guide plate that guides these guide rollers in a direction intersecting the conveyance path. (5) The sterilizer according to claim 4, wherein the drive gear of the reciprocating mechanism is driven by a servo motor.