JPH0640436A - Method and device to sterilize can lid - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Sterilization of can lids without increasing the size of the device.
It should be possible to sterilize the details in a short time efficiently and sufficiently. [Constitution] The can lids 18 are continuously conveyed by the can lid conveying means 12 so that the can lid surfaces are orthogonal to the traveling direction of the can lids 18 one by one. In the sterilizing liquid treatment means 14 located at, the volatile sterilizing liquid is sprayed from the spraying part 14a, and the sprayed sterilizing liquid is sucked from the suction part 14b. A flow is caused to attach the sterilizing liquid to the surface of the can lid 18, and the sprayed excess sterilizing liquid is sucked into the suction unit 14
b), and thereafter, in the heat treatment means 16 located at the rear part of the can lid conveying means 12, each can lid 18 that has been subjected to the sterilizing solution treatment is heated to 100 to 200 ° C. to evaporate the sterilizing solution adhering to the surface thereof. Dry and remove.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizing method for a can lid used as an end plate portion of a can filled with foods and beverages, and a sterilizing apparatus used for carrying out the sterilizing method. The present invention relates to a can lid sterilization method and device suitable for can lid sterilization as a pretreatment for applying the aseptic filling method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a can is filled with food or beverage and sealed, generally, a method of sterilizing by heating after filling and sealing is used. In this method, the paint or the like used for the can is used. Since the heating temperature is limited due to the problem of heat resistance, the content must be heated for a long time for sterilization, which may impair the flavor of the content, and the content that cannot be heated to a high temperature. There is a problem that it is inconvenient to fill in. Therefore, aseptic filling method such as conventionally applied when filling milk into a paper carton, that is, a method of filling the contents sterilized by a suitable means in advance into a container that has been sterilized beforehand is a method. It may also be used when filling cans with food, beverages, and the like.

[0003] When applying such an aseptic filling method to filling a can, the can lid for sealing the can is also
It is necessary to make it aseptic in advance, and as a means for sterilizing can lids for that purpose, conventionally, formed can lids that are transported in a state of being stacked in large numbers are separated one by one,
Each can lid is sterilized by separating and transporting the can lids one by one so that the can lid surface is orthogonal to the traveling direction, and spraying high-temperature steam, etc. in the transport route. (JP-A-54-68378 and JP-A-56-104669). However, in order to sterilize the can lid directly with high temperature steam in detail, it is necessary to expose the can lid to the high temperature steam for a long time, and furthermore, since the can lids must be sterilized one by one, an extremely long time is required. That is, there is a problem that the can lid sterilization treatment efficiency is significantly reduced.

On the other hand, a technique of spraying a volatile sterilizing liquid such as hydrogen peroxide solution on the lid material during transportation and then evaporating and drying the sterilizing liquid by blowing hot air to remove the sterilizing liquid is conventionally known. Specifically, a sterilizing agent spraying part, a sterile hot air spraying part, etc. are provided along the slanted transport guide, and the cover material that is moved by the transporting guide is volatile such as hydrogen peroxide solution from the germicidal spraying part. A technique of spraying a sterilizing solution and then drying with hot air is conventionally known (JP-A-63-44).
No. 429 gazette), a container lid or the like is introduced into a sterilization chamber which is shielded from the outside air, and a volatile sterilizing liquid such as hydrogen peroxide solution sprayed from a spray nozzle is conveyed while being conveyed by a conveyor in the sterilization chamber. A technique is known in the art in which fine mist particles are attached to the surface and then dried with hot air (JP-A-59-59).
115220, JP-A-62-28326).

[0005]

By the way, a can lid which is generally widely used in beverage cans, that is,
In addition to the flat flat portion 104 as shown in FIG. 5, a curl portion 102 for performing a crimping joint with the body of the can body, and a tab behind the tab used when opening the can. Sterilization with a volatile germicidal solution is applied to a can lid having a complicated surface shape such as a peripheral portion 106, a rivet hole 103 in which a rivet supporting a tab is fixed, a counter sink portion 105 forming an annular recess, and the like. In this case, in order to allow the sterilizing liquid to properly enter the respective parts of the can lid, as shown in the above-mentioned prior art, the hydrogen peroxide solution is discharged from the sterilizing agent spraying part to the lid material moved by the guide for transportation. Such as spraying a volatile sterilizing liquid such as
No. 3-44429), the both sides of the can lid are arranged so that the can lid surface is parallel to the can lid advancing direction in order to face both sides of the can lid to the sterilizing solution spraying device. It has to be made into a shape and sprayed well,
Also, fine mist particles of a volatile sterilizing solution such as hydrogen peroxide solution sprayed from a spray nozzle in a sterilization chamber shielded from the outside air are attached to the surface thereof (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-115220).
JP-A-62-28326), it is necessary to provide a sterilization chamber having a closed structure for filling the mist particles of the volatile sterilizing liquid, and an atmosphere filled with the mist particles of the sterilizing liquid in the sterilizing chamber. It must be constructed so that the can lid is exposed for a sufficient amount of time.

As a result, in the former case, by arranging the can lids one by one so that both surfaces thereof are parallel to the traveling direction, the conveying path becomes long and the conveying efficiency deteriorates, and the sterilizing solution is used. Since it is sprayed in large water droplets in a large amount, a draining portion for the bactericide is also required. In the latter case, it is necessary to provide a sterilization chamber with a closed structure that prevents the fog particles of the volatile sterilization liquid in the sterilization chamber from leaking to the outside. In addition, there is a problem that the can lid transport time for passing through the sterilization route becomes long and the work efficiency decreases.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional can lid sterilizing method or can lid sterilizing apparatus as described above, and sufficiently sterilize a can lid having a complicated surface shape in detail in a short time. It is an object of the present invention to provide a can lid sterilizing method that can be performed, and a can lid sterilizing apparatus that can perform such a can lid sterilizing method without requiring an increase in the size of the apparatus.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, the present invention separates the can lids one by one so that the can lid surface is orthogonal to the traveling direction. In the can lid transporting path for continuous transport, the volatile sterilizing liquid is first sprayed from the side of the can lid group being transported, and sprayed at a position facing the spraying position with the can lid group sandwiched therebetween. By sucking the sterilized liquid that has been sprayed, a flow of mist-like sterilizing liquid is caused between the lids of the cans to attach the sterilizing liquid to the surface of the can lid, and the sprayed extra sterilizing liquid is sucked into the can. Disclosed is a can lid sterilization method characterized by removing from the lid transport path and then heating each can lid that has been treated with a sterilizing solution to evaporate and remove the sterilizing solution adhering to the surface of the can lid. ,
Furthermore, in order to carry out such a can lid sterilizing method more preferably, 2.0 to 15.0% by weight of hydrogen peroxide solution is used as a volatile sterilizing liquid, and the amount of adhesion on the entire surface of the can lid is 15 to 100 m.
It has an embodiment in which spraying is performed so as to be g / 100 cm ^2, and each can lid that has been subjected to the sterilizing solution treatment is heated so that the can lid temperature becomes 100 to 200 ° C.

Further, the present invention is an apparatus for carrying out the above-described can lid sterilization method, in which the can lids are separated one by one so that the can lid surface is orthogonal to the direction of advance of the can lid. To the can lid conveying means, a sterilizing liquid treatment means located at the front of the can lid conveying means for sterilizing each can lid being conveyed with a volatile sterilizing liquid, and a rear portion of the can lid conveying means. In the can lid sterilizing device, which is provided with a heating treatment means for heating each can lid that has been treated with the sterilizing solution by the sterilizing solution treating means, the sterilizing solution treating means is A sterilizing liquid spraying portion disposed on the side of the can lid group, and a sterilizing liquid suction portion disposed at a position facing the spraying portion with the can lid group being conveyed interposed therebetween. The present invention provides a can lid sterilizer.

[0010]

[Operation] Since the can lid sterilizing method of the present invention is configured as described above, the can lid is arranged so that the can lid surface is orthogonal to the traveling direction, for example, the interval is about 10 mm.
Even if it is treated with a sterilizing solution while being transported at a high density and in a relatively short time, the sprayed volatile sterilizing solution flows between the can lids and forces it to enter. Even if it is not arranged so as to face the surface, the volatile sterilizing liquid can be adhered to the details of each can lid to perform sufficient sterilization, and the extra sterilizing liquid that has not adhered to the can lid can be removed. Since it is inhaled and eliminated, the sterilizing liquid does not diffuse around it and the working environment around the sterilizer is not deteriorated.

Further, in such a can lid sterilizing method of the present invention, the spraying condition of hydrogen peroxide water as a volatile sterilizing liquid is 2.0 to 15.0% by weight and the entire surface of the can lid is covered. On the other hand, if the coating amount is set to 15 to 100 mg / 100 cm ² and the heating temperature of the can lid is set to 100 to 200 ° C., hydrogen peroxide water having a relatively low concentration is used, and droplets are generated during the heat treatment. It is possible to obtain a complete sterilizing effect by heating the coating film on the can lid so as not to discolor it, without increasing the amount of spray so that the traces remain.

Further, regarding the can lid sterilizing apparatus of the present invention,
As a sterilizing solution processing means, a spraying section and a suction section for sterilizing solution are simply arranged on the side of the can lid group that is transported while being arranged so that the can lid surface is orthogonal to the traveling direction. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange the can lids one by one so that the can lid surface is parallel to the traveling direction, or to provide a drainer or the like, and the sterilizing solution treatment means is constituted by an extremely short transport section. In addition, the sterilizing solution does not spread around it even without providing a closed-type sterilization chamber. It can be carried out.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an embodiment of a can lid sterilizing apparatus used for carrying out the can lid sterilizing method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The can lid sterilizer 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the can lid transfer means 12 in the can lid sterilizer 10, the sterilizing solution processing means 14 arranged at the front of the can lid transfer means 12, and the rear portion of the can lid transfer means 12. The heat treatment means 16 is disposed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the can lid carrying means 12 has three spiral grooved screws 70, 72 and 74 along the carrying path in the shape of an inverted triangle with the can lid 18 as the center. The screws 70 are arranged in parallel, and the end edges of the can lids 18 transported in the state of being stacked in the lateral direction are the screws 70,
By entering into the spiral groove of 72, 74, each can lid 18 is supported from both sides and below so that it can rotate lightly, and one can lid 18 is held for each pitch of the screws 70, 72, 74. As a result, each can lid is introduced into the sterilizing solution treatment means 14 in a state in which the can lid surface is orthogonal to the can lid advancing direction and is separated so that the distance between adjacent can lid surfaces is about 10 mm. It is configured to be. The structure of such a can lid conveying means is such that the conventional can lid is sterilized by spraying high temperature steam or the like (JP-A-54-68).
No. 378 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-104669).

The specific specifications of the can lid transfer means 12 in the present embodiment are as follows.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sterilizing solution treatment means 14 comprises a sterilizing solution spraying section 14a and a suction section 14b, and the sterilizing solution spraying section 14a is compressed air sent from a compressor (not shown). Filter 20 for filtering water, hydrogen peroxide water tank 22, pure water tank 24, mixer 2
6, storage tank 28, automatic supply device 30, chemical liquid tank 3
2, a flow meter 34, a flow rate control valve 36, a spray nozzle 38, etc., and the spray nozzle 38 is specifically,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, four spray nozzles 38a, 38b, 38c, 38 are provided on the upper portion of the can lid 18 during transportation.
It is arranged as d. As shown in FIG. 1, the suction section 14b is composed of a fog collecting duct 43 arranged below the can lid conveying means 12, a blower 44 following the fog collecting duct 43, a mist aggregator 46, an exhaust treatment device 48, and the like. ing.

In the area of the sterilizing solution treating means 14,
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 (A), the can lid transfer means 12 located between the sterilizing liquid spraying section 14a and the suction section 14b corresponds to each screw 70, 72, 74. Blow-off nozzles 76, 78, 80 for removing excess sterilizing liquid adhering to the screws are arranged close to the screws 70, 72, 74 so as to send compressed air in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the screws. And a blade 8 for improving the efficiency of removing excess sterilizing liquid by compressed air sent from the blow-off nozzles 76, 78, 80.
2, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92 are each screw 1
Two books are provided for each book.

The specific specifications of the sterilizing solution treating means 14 in this embodiment are as follows. Length of processing section 250 mm (can lid passage time: 2.5 seconds) Sterilizing solution spraying nozzle Number 4 Method 2 fluid method Pattern flat spray Particle size 40-80 μm Blow-off nozzle Number 3 (1 / screw) Blade Number 6 Sheet (2 sheets / screw) Displacement approx. 100 m ³ / hour

As shown in FIG. 1, the heat treatment means 16 includes a high temperature air supply unit including an air filter 50, a blower 52, an air filter 54, a heater 56, a blower 58, and a cooler. 60, a filter 62, and the like, and an exhaust unit that exhausts the high temperature air that has been used and cools it, and then performs the heat treatment means 16
Is configured to be supplied to the cooling processing unit 63 located at the rearmost portion. A temperature sensor 66 for monitoring the heating temperature is installed in the heat treatment means 16. As for the main part of the heat treatment means 16, specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, supply of high-temperature air to the gaps between the screws 70 and 72 and the screws 72 and 74 of the can lid transfer means 12. Hot air nozzles 96 for blowing high-temperature air supplied from each section onto each can lid 18 being conveyed,
98 is arranged, and a guide 100 for preventing the can lid 18 from floating due to the blowing of the high temperature air.
Are arranged above the can lid conveying means 12.

The specific specifications of the heat treatment means 16 in this embodiment are as follows. Length of processing part 320 mm (can lid passage time: 3.2 seconds) Two hot air nozzles Length 300 mm Diameter 2 mm φ × 5 mm pitch Blowoff amount About 120 m ³ / hour

Next, an embodiment of a can lid sterilizing method which is carried out by the above-described can lid sterilizing apparatus of the present invention will be described. First, the can lids 18 that have been conveyed to the can lid sterilizing apparatus 10 in a laterally stacked state are stacked by the can lid transporting means 12 of the can lid sterilizing apparatus 10 so that each of the can lids 18 is stacked. The can lid surface is orthogonal to the can lid advancing direction, and the space between adjacent can lid surfaces is 10 m.
It is separated to about m and is introduced into the sterilizing solution treatment means 14 (conveyed from the right side to the left side in FIG. 1).

In the sterilizing solution treatment means 14, a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution in which the hydrogen peroxide solution in the hydrogen peroxide solution tank 22 and the pure water in the pure water tank 24 are mixed by a mixer 26 to have an appropriate concentration. This is stored in a storage tank 28 as a volatile sterilizing liquid, and the diluted hydrogen peroxide solution is appropriately supplied from this storage tank 28 to the chemical liquid tank 32 by an automatic supply device 30 and the compressed air from the compressor is filtered. The diluted hydrogen peroxide solution in the chemical solution tank 32 is supplied to the spray nozzle 38 by applying pressure to the chemical solution tank 32 via 20, and the diluted hydrogen peroxide solution is atomized and sprayed from the spray nozzle 38. . The spray nozzle 3
The amount of spray from 8 is monitored by the flow meter 34 and adjusted to an appropriate amount by the flow rate control valve 36.

The diluted hydrogen peroxide solution sprayed in the form of mist is sucked by the suction of the blower 44 from the mist collecting duct 43 arranged in the lower part of the sterilizing solution treating means 14 facing the spray nozzle 38, and as a result, As shown in FIG. 3B, the atomized hydrogen peroxide solution sprayed by the spray nozzle 38 forcibly enters between the can lids 18 according to the flow in a certain direction, and the nozzle 38 directly sprays the can. Even though it does not face the lid surface, even the details of each can lid 18 are evenly attached to each portion of the can lid. The residual mist of the diluted hydrogen peroxide solution that was sprayed by the spray nozzle 38 but did not enter between the can lids 18,
Further, the diluted hydrogen peroxide solution exhausted from the upper part of the sterilizing solution treatment means 14 by the exhaust booth 40 and the blower 42 and sucked by the blower 44 from the fog-collecting duct 43 is gas-liquid separated by the mist aggregator 46, and the gas portion is separated. Is exhausted by the exhaust treatment device 48, and the liquid portion is subjected to waste liquid treatment.

Further, the screw 7 of the can lid conveying means 12
The excess sterilizing liquid adhering to 0, 72, 74 is blown off by sending compressed air in a direction opposite to the screw rotation direction by blow-off nozzles 76, 78, 80, and further blades 82, 84, 86, 88, 90. ,
92 is removed without delay along the plate surface of 92, and the removed excess sterilizing liquid is passed through the duct 43 to the mist aggregator 46.
Send to. Therefore, the surplus sterilizing liquid is surely removed from the can lid conveying path, and the water droplets of the surplus sterilizing liquid adhere to the shooter of the can lid as in the conventional case. There is no such thing as leaving a drop mark. The can lid 18 that has passed through the sterilizing liquid treatment means 14 is then introduced into the heat treatment means 16 by the can lid carrying means 12.

In the heat treatment means 16, high temperature air is supplied through the air filter 50, the blower 52, the air filter 54 and the heater 56, and the high temperature air is fed between the screws 70 and 72 of the conveying means 12 and the screw 7.
The hot air nozzles 96 and 98 spray the can lid 18 being conveyed from between the positions 2 and 74, respectively. The floating of the can lid 18 due to the blowing of the high-temperature air causes the can lid 1 to rise.
This is prevented by a guide 100 placed on top of the 8.
Then, the high temperature air used in the heat treatment means 16 is passed through between the inner wall and the outer wall of the double wall portion to the exhaust port 9
9 is discharged from the blower 58 and sent to the cooler 60 by the blower 58, and after being cooled by the cooler 60, it is supplied to the cooling treatment part 63 at the end of the heat treatment means 16 through the filter 62,
Used to cool the lid. The temperature in the heat treatment means 16 is monitored by the temperature sensor 66,
It is adjusted to maintain a constant temperature.

An embodiment of the can lid sterilizing method of the present invention carried out by the above can lid sterilizing apparatus has been described above. Furthermore, there is a close relationship between the concentration of the volatile sterilizing solution and the heating temperature. Focusing on the fact that extremely efficient sterilization can be performed by the synergistic action of the volatile sterilizing liquid and heating, an embodiment for more suitably carrying out the can lid sterilizing method of the present invention will be described in detail below. To do.

First, with respect to the can lid 18 having the shape shown in FIG. 5, the results of examining the relationship between the respective portions and the sterilizing effect are as follows. Ba
cillus subtilis ver. niger
Apply ATCC9372 spores
10 ⁴ / lid) were sterilized test under relatively mild conditions using the apparatus of FIG. The treatment amount was 300 sheets / minute (spraying treatment: 5 seconds, heat treatment: 6.4 seconds), the hydrogen peroxide concentration was 2%, the spraying amount was 10 ml / nozzle / minute (nozzle 3
Book), spraying pressure 3 kg / cm ² , heating temperature is 200 ° C.
It is 230 ° C. The results are shown in the following table (number of remaining bacteria can lids / number of tests).

[0028]

[Table 1] ──────────────────────────────── 230 ℃ 200 ℃ ─────────── ────────────────────── Inner surface Flat part 1/10 4/10 Curl part 4/10 5/10 Rivet hole 8/10 10/10 ── ────────────────────────────── External side flat part 0/10 3/10 Counter sync part 0/10 5/10 tab Around 9/10 10/10 ─────────────────────────────────

As is clear from Table 1 above, it is understood that it is extremely difficult to sterilize the rivet hole or around the tab. Therefore, it is the side that is the inner surface side of the can, and especially the rivet hole where adhesion to bacteria is a problem,
The sterilization conditions were examined. That is, in the can lid sterilization apparatus of FIG. 1, when hydrogen peroxide solution is used as the volatile sterilizing liquid, the test results of the relationship between the concentration, heating temperature and sterilizing effect are shown in Table 2 below. The evaluation of the sterilization treatment is described in B. 1.9 × 10 ⁴ subtillis /
It was applied to a can lid (diameter of about 60 mm) so as to be one sheet, and when bacteria were found after sterilization treatment, x was given, and when no bacteria were found after sterilization treatment, ◯ was given. The temperature is the temperature reached by the can lid and is usually 50 to 10 higher than the ambient temperature.
0 ° C lower.

[0030]

[Table 2] ──────────────────────────────────── H ₂ O ₂ concentration (%) 0. 0 2.0 5.0 15.0 35.0 ───────────────────────────────────── 50 ℃ × × × × ○ 70 × × × × ○ 100 × × × ○ ○ 150 × × ○ ○ ○ 200 × ○ ○ ○ ○ 230 × ○ ○ ○ ○ ─────────────── ──────────────────────

Regarding the bactericidal effect test results shown in Table 2 and the hydrogen peroxide concentration, when the concentration was 30%, it was 5
From the viewpoints of residual hydrogen peroxide water being observed under the heating condition of about 0 ° C. and from the viewpoint of manufacturing cost, the lower one is preferable. The heating temperature is 100 to 200 ° C., and the hydrogen peroxide concentration is 2.0 to 1 because the discoloration is not preferable.
5.0% is considered to be suitable. Furthermore, Table 3 shows the test results regarding the relationship between the spray amount (the amount attached to the entire surface of the can lid) and the sterilization efficiency when the heating temperature is fixed at 150 ° C and the hydrogen peroxide concentration is fixed at 5.0%. As shown.

[0032]

[Table 3] ─────────────────────────────── Spray processing amount (mg / 100cm ² ) Number of bacteria remaining lids ── ───────────────────────────── 5 8/30 15 0/30 30 0/30 50 0/30 100 0/30 ─ ──────────────────────────────

As is clear from Table 3 above, the amount of hydrogen peroxide sprayed when all of the water was attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the can lid was 15 mg per 100 cm ² of the entire can lid surface.
It can be seen that the above is necessary, but if the spray amount exceeds 100 mg per 100 cm ² of the entire surface of the can lid, it may aggregate as relatively large water droplets on the can lid, and droplet traces may remain during the heat treatment. 15-100mg / 100cm
^{A value of 2} is considered preferable.

Incidentally, FIG. 6 shows that each spray amount is 10 ml, 15 ml.
In the case of 20 ml (ml / nozzle / min × 3) (the spray amount is the total spray amount of the amount attached to the can lid surface and the amount not attached), the number of remaining bacteria on each lid is 0. This is a comparison of the conditions. As is clear from the figure, as the spray amount is increased, the sterilization efficiency is improved even if the concentration value is low, but when it becomes 20 ml / nozzle / minute, in some cases, a large droplet mark is formed on the surface of the can lid. It is not preferable because hydrogen peroxide water adheres to it. 20ml here
/ Nozzle / minute x 3 is 1 as the amount of adhesion on the entire surface of the can lid.
This corresponds to 20 mg / 100 cm ² or more. In view of the above test results, in carrying out the can lid sterilization method of the present invention, 2.0 to 15.0% by weight of hydrogen peroxide solution was sprayed as a volatile sterilizing liquid, and this was applied to the entire can lid. To attach to the can lid so that the amount attached to the surface is 15 to 100 mg / 100 cm ^2, and to heat each can lid that has been treated with the sterilizing solution so that the can lid temperature becomes 100 to 200 ° C. A hydrogen peroxide solution with a relatively low concentration is used, so that it is possible to obtain a complete sterilizing effect without leaving droplet marks during heat treatment or discoloring the coating film on the can lid. It is understood that it is a condition.

When the can lid sterilization test was actually conducted according to the above-mentioned embodiment, it was achieved by raising the can lid temperature to 140 ° C. (heating temperature 5 seconds) when the sterilizing effect was set to 5D. . On the other hand, when the conventional super steam is used to obtain the same bactericidal effect, the temperature at which the can lid reaches 240 ° C. and the maintenance time is 15 seconds or longer (heating temperature is 30 seconds or longer). It was necessary and it was demonstrated that the present invention significantly reduced the sterilization time.

Although the present invention has been described based on the respective embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, a screw is used in the embodiment of the can lid sterilizer described above. Although a blow-off nozzle and a blade were provided to remove the excess hydrogen peroxide solution attached, it is also possible to provide a vacuum duct instead of the blade, etc., as long as the scope of the claims, various implementations. It is possible to take a mode.

[0037]

Since the can lid sterilizing method of the present invention is constructed as described above, the details of each can lid can be improved even if the can lid is treated with a sterilizing solution while being transported at a high density and in a relatively short time. The volatile sterilizing liquid adheres even to the above, and sufficient sterilization can be performed, and further, the sterilizing liquid does not diffuse around it and the working environment around the sterilizer is not deteriorated. In addition, in such a can lid sterilization method, the spraying conditions of hydrogen peroxide solution as a volatile sterilizing liquid are 2.0 to 15.
0% by weight, and 15 to 100 mg / based on the entire surface of the can lid.
If the heating amount of the can lid is set to 100 cm ² and the heating temperature of the can lid is set to 100 to 200 ° C., the trace of the sterilizing liquid drops on the can lid during the heat treatment due to the use of hydrogen peroxide solution having a relatively low concentration. It does not remain, there is no discoloration of the coating film on the can lid, and a complete bactericidal effect can be obtained. Further, with respect to the can lid sterilization device of the present invention, the sterilizing solution treatment means can be configured with a short transport section, without increasing the size of the device,
The above can lid sterilization method can be appropriately implemented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an embodiment of a can lid sterilizing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main part of a sterilization processing means and a part of a can lid carrying means of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a spraying state of a sterilizing liquid in the sterilizing treatment means of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the main part of the heat treatment means and a part of the can lid transfer means of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a can lid.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution, the spray amount, the ambient temperature and the sterilization efficiency.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Can Lid Sterilizer 12 Can Lid Transfer Means 14 Sterilizing Liquid Treatment Means 14a Spraying Part 14b Suction Part 16 Heat Treatment Means 18 Can Lids

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A can lid group which is being transported in a can lid transport path for continuously transporting the can lids one by one so that the can lid surface is orthogonal to the traveling direction of the can lids. A volatile sterilizing liquid is sprayed from the side of the can lid, and the sprayed sterilizing liquid is sucked at a position opposite to the spray position with the can lid group sandwiched between the can lids. A flow is caused to adhere the sterilizing liquid to the surface of the can lid, and the sprayed excess sterilizing liquid is removed from the can lid transport path by suction, and then each can lid treated with the sterilizing solution is heated to A can lid sterilization method, characterized in that the sterilizing liquid adhering to the surface is removed by evaporation and drying. 2. A 2.0 to 15.0% by weight hydrogen peroxide solution as a volatile sterilizing liquid, and an adhesion amount of 15 to 1 on the entire surface of the can lid.
The can lid sterilization according to claim 1, characterized in that the can lid is sprayed so as to have a concentration of 00 mg / 100 cm ² and each can lid subjected to the sterilizing solution treatment is heated so that the can lid temperature becomes 100 to 200 ° C. Method. 3. A can lid conveying means for continuously conveying the can lids one by one so that the can lid surface is orthogonal to the traveling direction of the can lids, and a front portion of the can lid conveying means. A sterilizing liquid treatment means for sterilizing each can lid being transported by a volatile sterilizing liquid, and each can lid positioned at the rear of the can lid transporting means and having been sterilized by the sterilizing liquid treatment means In a can lid sterilizing apparatus provided with a heating treatment means for heating the sterilizing solution, the sterilizing solution treating means is a spraying section of the sterilizing solution arranged laterally of the can lid group being conveyed by the can lid conveying means, A can lid sterilizing device comprising: a sterilizing liquid suction portion arranged at a position facing the spraying portion with a can lid group being conveyed sandwiched therebetween.