JPH066009Y2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a sterilizer for sterilizing a tubular blank for a paper container containing milk or juice, which is generally called a Gobeltop type.

[Prior Art] FIG. 5 shows a Gobel-top type paper container 1. This container 1 is formed by sterilizing a cylindrical blank having a fixed length with both ends opened, and then heating, provisionally folding, and sealing steps to form a bottom 2 into a flat-bottom shape. The container 1 is completed by forming it into a gable shape.

The sterilization step is generally performed by spraying a sterilizing solution on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the blank. Furthermore,
In the case of a brick-shaped container, the packaging material is formed into a long strip shape, and this strip-shaped packaging material is immersed in a container containing a sterilizing solution to sterilize it.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in the sterilization by spraying the sterilizing solution, the spraying of the sterilizing solution may be non-uniform or the amount of spray may be insufficient. In this case, sterilization failure may occur. . On the other hand, when immersing the blank in a sterilizing solution, the risk of sterilization failure is eliminated, but in the case of a Goebel top type container, the blank needs to be molded into an independent cylindrical shape, Therefore, it is not easy to remove this sterilizing liquid after soaking it in the sterilizing liquid.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing apparatus that can efficiently remove a sterilizing solution from a cylindrical blank immersed in the sterilizing solution.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A sterilizer according to the present invention is a sterilizer that holds a hollow beverage container blank in a horizontal direction and sequentially immerses it in a sterilizer tank arranged below. A pair of sprockets arranged vertically above each other, connecting rods having universal joints connected to each of these sprockets at both ends, and wound around each of the sprockets, and the lower end is immersed in the sterilizing agent tank. The two blank carrier chains, a plurality of pairs of mounting members mounted on both carrier chains at equal intervals and projecting outward of the traveling surface of the carrier chain, and the carrier chains running on the respective mounting members. A plurality of pairs of pivoting members pivotally attached laterally to the direction, and a blank holder pivotally attached to each pair of pivoting members and pivotable along the traveling surface. It is characterized in that the blank can be circulated in the sterilizing agent tank while being inclined.

[Operation] According to the sterilizer of the present invention, the two sprockets vertically arranged in a staggered manner are rotated in synchronization with each other by the connecting rods having universal joints arranged at both ends. Further, since the blank holder is attached to the chain wound around each sprocket so as to be rotatable along the traveling surface thereof, the blank holder is immersed in the sterilizing agent tank and pulled up while the blank is inclined. The germicide can enter and exit the interior of the tilted hollow blank through the openings at both ends.

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

[Embodiment] FIG. 4 shows a sterilizing apparatus 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and this sterilizing apparatus is used in the aseptic filling and packaging machine for filling and packaging the Gobeltouk type container 4 shown in FIG.

The sterilization device 5 has a sterilization chamber 6, to which a blank 4 is supplied from an inlet portion 5a on the right side of the figure through an appropriate paper feeding mechanism, and the sterilized blank 4 has an outlet portion 5b. Sent to the next step. Furthermore, sterilizer 5
Has a sterilizing agent tank 7 containing hydrogen peroxide water, for example, and a first circulating device 9. This first circulating device rotates intermittently so that the blanks 4 are successively immersed in the sterilizing agent tank 7. The blank 4 pulled up from the disinfectant tank 7 has a mandrel mechanism 10
Attached to each mandrel radially arranged around the circumference of
During the rotation of the mandrel mechanism, the germicide is removed by the air flow ejected from each mandrel. After that, the blank 4 is circulated in the sterilizer removal tank 8 which blows hot air by the second circulation device 11 similar to the first circulation device 9.

1 to 3 show the circulation device.

The circulation device has a pair of sprockets 18 a and 18 b arranged above the germicide tank 7. The drive side sprocket 18a and the driven side sprocket 18b are arranged so as to be vertically offset from each other, and the opposite ends thereof are connected by a connecting rod 19 via universal joints 19a, 19a. An idler (not shown) is arranged in each tank below each of the sprockets 18a and 18b, and carrier chains 20 and 20 having the same length are respectively wound around the sprockets and the idler.
Therefore, the lower end of each chain is an extension located in the germicide bath 7.

The blank holder 14 shown in FIG. 3 is attached to these chains 20, 20 so as to circulate in an inclined state. The blank holder 14 has a pair of support members 16 formed in a U shape in which legs extend from both ends of the base,
Four rails 15 having an L-shaped cross section are symmetrically supported by each leg of the pair of support members. Each rail 15 is third
As shown in the drawing, the vertical edges of the four corners of each column-shaped blank 4 can be held, and can be accommodated and discharged along the vertical direction. An attachment hole 17 for attaching to the transport chain 20 is formed at the base of the blank holder 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each transport chain 20 is formed by connecting a series of parallel-arranged link plates 21 by pins 22 to each other. Mounting members 23 having an L-shaped cross section are attached to the respective transport chains at equal intervals. This mounting member is formed of a plate material, and one leg of the L shape can be used as the link plate 21 or can be attached to the link plate. In any case, the other leg portion is projected outward from the traveling surface of the transport chain 20 and is mounted so that the surface is arranged orthogonal to the link plate.

The outer leg of the mounting member 23 is formed with a through hole in the plate thickness direction, and the base end of the block 24 is fixed to this through hole. The tip of this block is formed in a bifurcated shape, and the proximal end of the flanged pin 25, which is a turning member, is inserted into this. The pin 25 is pivotally attached to the two forks of the tip of the block 24, and can swivel laterally with respect to the traveling direction of the transport chain 20. That is, the transport chain 20
When the vehicle travels in the vertical direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pin 25
Can rotate in the plane of the figure.

The tip of each pin 25 has a bush 17a that facilitates turning.
It is inserted into the mounting hole 17 of the blank holder 14 via. The support member 1 is mounted on the flange portion 25a of this pin.
The base portion 6 is placed, and the base surface on the opposite side is fixed by a C ring 26 or the like. The blank holder 14 is attached so that the blank holder 14 is arranged to be inclined with respect to the traveling direction of the transport chain as shown in FIG.

Since the blank holder 14 is attached to the conveyor chain 20 as described above, the sprockets 18a, 1
When 8b rotates, the blank 4 held in the blank holder 14 is immersed in the sterilizing agent tank 7 in an inclined state with respect to the traveling direction of the transport chain, and pulled up in an inclined state. Therefore, no air pocket is formed on the inner surface of the blank 4, and the bactericidal agent does not remain inside when it is pulled up evenly in contact with the bactericidal agent. Furthermore, when turning the sprocket or idler, the blank holder 14
The tilting direction, that is, the flanged pin 25, which is rotatable with respect to the transport chain 20 and the blank holder 14 about axes intersecting with each other, allows the tilt direction to be changed and allows smooth movement.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above, according to the present invention, the blank can pass through the sterilizing agent tank in an inclined state, whereby the sterilizing agent can be uniformly contacted with the inner surface of the blank and pulled up. Can be efficiently sterilized without remaining inside.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part thereof, FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a blank holder for holding a blank, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the entire sterilizer, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a container formed from a blank. 4 ... Blank, 7 ... Sterilizer tank, 18 ... Sprocket, 19 ... Connecting rod, 20 ... Conveying chain, 23
...... Mounting member, 25 …… Turning member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A sterilizing device for holding a hollow beverage container blank in a horizontal direction and sequentially immersing the beverage container blank in a sterilizing agent tank arranged below, and the sterilizing apparatus is arranged above the sterilizing agent tank and vertically offset from each other. A pair of sprockets, a connecting rod having a universal joint connected to each of these sprockets at both ends, two blank transfer chains wound around each of the sprockets, the lower end of which is immersed in the sterilizing agent tank. A plurality of pairs of mounting members that are mounted on both transport chains at equal intervals and project to the outside of the traveling surface of the transport chain, and each of these mounting members is pivotally movable in the lateral direction with respect to the traveling direction of the transport chain. A plurality of pairs of swiveling members that are attached, and a blank holder that is pivotally attached to each pair of swiveling members and that can swivel along the traveling surface, and the sterilizing agent while tilting the blank. Sterilizer being characterized in that to allow circulating in.