JP2015166264A - Method and apparatus for sterilizing container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently sterilize an interior surface and an exterior surface of a container, without damaging a blow molding unit, and to reduce costs by downsizing a facility and making an area maintained as a sterile environment small.SOLUTION: A molding sterilization line of a container to be blow molded has a molding area 101 for carrying out blow molding, and a transfer area 103 between the molding area 101 and a filling area for filling the container with contents, and the exterior surface of the container is sterilized within the transfer area 103.

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilization method and a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a container in a molding sterilization line in which the container is blow-molded from a preform and the molded container is sterilized.

Conventionally, a filling system is known in which a container is continuously blow-molded from a preform, and the formed container is supplied to a filling unit to fill the contents.
In such a filling system, it is necessary that the container is sufficiently sterilized in the molded sterilization line before the container reaches the filling device.
For example, it is known to sterilize a container by spraying a sterilizing agent onto the container while washing the blow-molded container (refer to Patent Document 1).
In addition, a blow molding unit is known in which the inside of a container is sterilized by mixing a sterilizing agent with blow air blown into a preform (see Patent Document 2, etc.).

JP 2008-74438 A JP 2009-274309 A

However, in the sterilization method of Patent Document 1 described above, the outer surface of the container is separately sterilized with a sterilizing agent, and in order to sterilize reliably, the sterilizing agent needs to adhere to the container for a predetermined time, and the conveyance line is lengthened. There is a problem in that the size of the equipment is increased and the cost is increased because the section must be set in a sterilized environment.
In addition, after the container is detached from the blow mold, the temperature of the container is lowered and sterilization under high temperature environment is not performed. As a result, the sterilization time is prolonged and the sterilization efficiency is lowered. When sterilizing, it was necessary to sterilize by taking measures such as spraying a large amount of sterilizing agent or heating the container again.
Moreover, in the sterilization method of Patent Document 2 described above, since the outer surface of the container cannot be sufficiently sterilized, in order to maintain the sterilized state of the container, it is necessary to put all of the blow molding unit to the filling unit in a sterilization environment. In order to secure a large area for maintaining the sterilization environment and to reliably maintain the sterilization environment, there has been a problem that the equipment is increased in size and cost.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and while sufficiently sterilizing the outer surface of the container, the equipment can be miniaturized without damaging the blow molding unit with a sterilizing agent, and there is also an area for maintaining a sterilization environment. An object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization method and a sterilization apparatus therefor that can reduce cost and cost.

  The sterilization method according to the present invention is a sterilization method for sterilizing a container in a molding sterilization line, and the molding sterilization line connects a molding area for performing the blow molding and a filling area for filling the container with contents. The object is solved by sterilizing the outer surface of the container in the transfer area.

  The sterilization apparatus according to the present invention is a sterilization apparatus having a blow molding unit for molding a container and a means for sterilizing the container, and a transfer means for connecting the blow molding unit and a filling unit for filling the container with contents. An arranged transfer unit is provided, and the transfer unit is provided with external surface sterilization means for sterilizing the external surface of the container, thereby solving the above-mentioned problem.

According to the sterilization method of the first aspect of the present invention and the sterilization apparatus of the seventh aspect of the present invention, the outer surface of the container can be sufficiently sterilized and the equipment can be downsized.
In addition, by sterilizing the outer surface of the container in a state where the high temperature is maintained after the container is detached from the blow-molding mold, the container after the blow-molding can be effectively sterilized and cooled. The line can be shortened.

According to the sterilization method according to claim 2 and the sterilization apparatus according to claim 8, the outer surface of the container is sterilized by transferring the sterilization of the outer surface of the container to the sterilized container on the inner surface of the container during the transfer in the transfer area. Therefore, the necessary sterilization environment can be set short, and the entire sterilization environment line can be set short.
According to the sterilization method according to claims 3 and 4, and the sterilization apparatus according to claims 9 and 10, the inner surface of the container is sufficiently sterilized by sterilizing the inner surface of the container in the molding area or the transfer area. Can be done.
When the inner surface of the container is sterilized in the transfer area, the outer surface of the container can be sterilized in the vicinity of the position to be sterilized so that the outer surface and the inner surface of the container can be sterilized equally for a predetermined time, and the container is blow molded. Since it can be sterilized in a state where the high temperature after being detached from the mold is maintained, it can be effectively sterilized.

According to the sterilization method according to claim 5 and the sterilization device according to claim 11, since air flows from the cleaning area to the transfer area, there is no inflow of bacteria into the cleaning area in the transfer area, The cleaning efficiency in the cleaning area is improved, and the process in the cleaning area can be simplified. Then, only the cleaning area, for example, by supplying aseptic air and maintaining the sterilization environment, the entire downstream area from the transfer area can be a sterilization environment.
According to the sterilization method according to claim 6 and the sterilization apparatus according to claim 12, since air flows from the molding area to the transfer area, gasification is performed in the transfer area even when a liquid sterilant or the like is used. Alternatively, it is possible to prevent the mist sterilizing agent from flowing into the molding area. Therefore, it is possible to inject the sterilizing agent upstream without damaging the blow molding unit with the sterilizing agent, etc., while ensuring the sterilization effect, it is possible to reduce the size of the equipment by shortening the entire line, and using positive pressure with sterile air However, there are few areas to keep in a sterilized environment, and the cost can be reduced.
In addition, when liquid sterilizing agent or the like is sprayed on the inner surface of the container in the molding area, spraying immediately before the transfer area and keeping the transfer area at a lower pressure than the molding area can adversely affect the blow molding unit. Can be prevented.
According to the sterilization apparatus of claim 13, a part of the internal space on the upstream side of the transfer unit overlaps with a part of the internal space on the downstream side of the blow molding unit, and the container discharge turret overlaps the internal space. Since the entire line can be set shorter, and the container can be sterilized in a state where the high temperature is maintained after the container is detached from the blow mold, it can be effectively sterilized.

Explanatory drawing of the sterilizer of 1st Embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the sterilizer of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of the sterilization method and sterilization apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The sterilization method and sterilization apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention connects a blow molding unit 110 that molds a container such as a PET bottle (polyethylene terephthalate bottle) and a filling unit J as shown in FIG. A transfer unit 130 is provided. And it has the washing | cleaning unit 120 which wash | cleans the sterilizing agent adhering to the container immediately before the filling unit J of the transfer unit 130. FIG.
The blow molding unit 110 includes a blow molding turret 113, a preform carry-in turret 114 adjacent to the blow molding turret 113, and a container discharge turret 115 (the most upstream transfer turret 133u). It also has 133m.
An oven 116 is provided on the upstream side of the preform carry-in turret 114, and the preform introduced from the preform introduction path P is heated by passing through the oven 116 by an appropriate means (not shown). It is configured to be delivered to the preform carry-in turret 114 later.
The oven 116 is provided with an exhaust means 117.

In the present embodiment, four transfer turrets 133 are provided upstream of the transfer unit 130, and the transfer turret 133 u that also serves as the most upstream container discharge turret 115 and the next-stage transfer turret 133 m are included in the blow molding unit 110. It is accommodated in the formed transfer unit 130. In addition, a washing unit is provided immediately before the downstream filling unit. An exhaust means 132 is provided upstream of the transfer unit 130.
The number of transfer turrets 133 may be designed according to the sterilant retention time and the like.
In this embodiment, the upstream of the transfer unit 130 is in the blow molding unit 110, and the transfer unit 130 may be longer or shorter depending on the number of transfer turrets 133.
Further, the transfer unit 130 may not have a portion overlapping the blow molding unit 110.

The cleaning unit 120 provided immediately before the filling unit of the transfer unit 130 has a plurality of transfer turrets 121 as transfer means, and sprays aseptic air onto the container to dry and vaporize the sterilizing agent while cleaning the filling unit. It is comprised so that a container may be transferred toward J. Here, the sterilized air may be normal temperature, but may be heated hot air, and the temperature may be set to 40 to 160 ° C, preferably 80 to 120 ° C. The container used for cleaning may be in an upright state or an inverted state. Preferably, a sterile air cleaning nozzle is inserted into the container mouth.
In the present embodiment, four transfer turrets 121 are shown. However, as long as the sterilizing agent is sufficiently washed, it may be designed with an appropriate number and size.
In the cleaning unit 120, cleaning water or the like may be jetted in the upstream portion in order to clean the sterilizing agent more reliably.
In addition, as long as no sterilant remains in the container, the container may be transferred to the filling unit without providing the cleaning unit.

The molding area 101, which is a space in the blow molding unit 110, and the cleaning area 102, which is a space in the cleaning unit 120, have the highest positive pressure due to the sterilized air supplied from the sterilizing air supply means 112, 122, Since the aseptic air flows into the transfer area 103, which is a space in the air, the pressure is higher than the atmosphere, but the pressure is lower than the cleaning unit 120 and the blow molding unit 110 by the exhaust means 132. The filling unit J is at a positive pressure than the molding area 101, the transfer area 103, and the cleaning area 102.
On the side of the most upstream transfer turret 133u (container discharge turret 115) in the transfer area 103 in the transfer unit 130, external surface injection means 131 for injecting a sterilizing agent toward the external surface of the container to be transferred as external surface sterilization means. The blow molding turret 113 in the molding area 101 in the blow molding unit 110 is provided with an inner surface injection means 111 for injecting a sterilizing agent toward the inside of the container to be transferred as an inner surface sterilization means.
In this case, sterilization includes sterilization, and sterilization and sterilization states are created according to the difference in the type of bacteria, the injection amount of the sterilant, and the sterilization temperature, and all of them are in a sterilization environment.
In this embodiment, a known gas, liquid, or the like used for sterilization and sterilization is used as a sterilizing agent. For example, an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, chlorine dioxide, hypochlorous acid, or the like is vaporized. Saturated or unsaturated gas generated by this, ozone water, ethanol or the like is used as a sterilizing component, and these are preferably injected as a gaseous or mist-like sterilizing agent.

A container sterilization method in the sterilization apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.
First, a preform for forming a container is introduced into the blow molding unit 110 from the preform introduction path P, heated in the oven 116, and supplied to the blow molding turret 113 through the preform carrying turret 114.
In the blow molded turret 113, for example, a preform heated to around 100 ° C. is blown in a mold to form a container, and after the mold is detached, the molded container is discharged to the container discharge turret 115. . At that time, the mold may be heated from 60 degrees to 120 degrees, for example.
The inner surface injection means 111 operates so as to be inserted into the container immediately before discharge into the container discharge turret 115 and immediately before or after the mold is detached, and sprays the sterilizing agent.
This prevents the sterilant from directly adhering to the mold, and the transfer area 103 where the container discharge turret 115 exists is at a lower pressure than the molding area 101 where the blow molded turret 113 exists. Since an air flow in the direction of the transfer area 103 is generated, the sterilizing agent is prevented from being scattered in the molding area 101, and adverse effects on the blow molding unit 110 are prevented.

The container introduced into the container discharge turret 115 (the most upstream transfer turret 133u) of the transfer unit 130 is sequentially transferred with the sterilizing agent sprayed from the outer surface injection means 131 toward the outer surface, and the sterilizing agent attached to the outer surface. After passing through 133 m, it is transferred to the transfer turret 133 d at the most downstream side.
During this time, the inner and outer surfaces of the container are sufficiently sterilized by transferring them for a predetermined time in a state in which the sterilizing agent is adhered, effectively utilizing the molding heat of the container.
Further, since the entire transfer unit 130 forms an independent space as the transfer area 103 and is maintained at a positive pressure from the atmosphere and at a lower pressure than the molding area 101 and the cleaning area 102 by the exhaust means 132, the outer surface injection means 131 Even if the injection pressure and the injection amount are adjusted so that the injected sterilizing agent fills the entire transfer area 103 in a gaseous or mist state, the sterilizing agent does not leak out of the transfer area 103, It is possible to arbitrarily perform an optimum injection that can provide a sufficient sterilization effect. Moreover, the inside of the transfer area 103 can also be made into a sterilization environment by filling the transfer area 103 with a sterilant.

All transfer turrets 121 of the cleaning unit 120 are in the cleaning area 102 and all the devices are in a sterilized state.
The container in which the sterilizing agent is held on the inner and outer surfaces by the transfer unit 130 is sprayed with aseptic air while being transferred from upstream to downstream in the cleaning unit 120, and the sterilizing agent adhering to the inner and outer surfaces is cleaned.
In the cleaning area 102 where the cleaning unit 120 is installed, the device itself that comes into contact with the container is sterilized in advance, and the sterilized state is maintained from the beginning by supplying sterile air, and is maintained at a higher pressure than the transfer area 103. Therefore, an air flow in the direction of the transfer area 103 is generated, and the sterilizing agent and bacteria do not flow from the transfer area 103.
The container sufficiently cleaned in the cleaning area 102 is supplied to a filling unit J arranged downstream of the cleaning unit 120. The filling unit J has a positive pressure from the cleaning area 102, but the filling unit is naturally in a sterilized state, and there is no problem even if an air flow occurs in the direction of the cleaning area 102. It does not flow into J.

Next, a sterilization method and sterilization apparatus according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sterilization apparatus 100 b according to this embodiment is configured such that the inner surface injection unit 111 b is arranged near the outer surface injection unit 131 in the container discharge turret 115 (transfer turret 133 u) in the transfer area 103. There are other configurations similar to those of the first embodiment described above.
By disposing the inner surface injection means 111b in the transfer area 103, the molding heat of the container can be effectively used for sterilization, the sterilizing agent is not injected in the molding area 101, and the sterilizing agent for the blow molding unit 110 is used. Adverse effects can be prevented.
Moreover, since it is in the transfer area 103, a sterilant may scatter and it can also be set as a simple structure which only injects a sterilant, without inserting the inner surface injection means 111b inside a container.

In both the first and second embodiments described above, since the bacteria do not adhere to the inner surface of the container in the transfer area 103 and the cleaning area 102, the blow molding unit 110 can ensure the sterility of the inner surface of the container. If so, the inner surface injection means 111 and 111b itself may be omitted.
Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, all the transfer and transfer means including the preform carry-in turret 114 and the blow-molded turret 113 are turrets. It is good also as other structures, such as.
In the first and second embodiments described above, the outer surface sterilizing means and the inner surface sterilizing means are the outer surface injecting means 131 and the inner surface injecting means 111 and 111b. Any means may be used as long as the surface of the container can be sterilized, such as those irradiated with infrared rays, visible rays, ultraviolet rays, X-rays, etc.) and particle rays.

The relationship between the container temperature and the sterilization effect on the outer surface of the container was tested.
(1) Test container Using a 500 ml PET bottle preform, the bacterial suspension of Bacillus atrophaeus spore was adjusted to a concentration of 1.3 × 10 2 cfu / ml, and 10 μm / cell bacterial suspension was adhered to the outer surface of the preform. , Stored in a clean room (CLASS 10000) for 24 hours and dried.
(2) Test conditions The test conditions are as shown in Table 1. The blow molding conditions, sterilant concentration, injection amount, temperature, and injection time, aseptic air cleaning flow rate, temperature, and cleaning time are all the same. Temperature and sterilant injection timing are different.
(3) Test method The preform to which the bacteria are attached is blow-molded with the PET bottle A sterilized according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above and a conventional molding machine, and then the sterilization washing apparatus as a separate device. Sampling was performed while each of the sterilized PET bottles B was sealed in a sterilized bag.
The sterilized PET bottle was cut into a 1 cm × 1 cm piece of the bottle mouth and bottle body in a clean bench, placed in a 15 ml screw test tube containing SCD liquid medium, and sealed with a sterilized cap. The sample was stored at 30 ° C. for 7 days, and the medium in which turbidity was observed was positive (×), and the medium in which turbidity was not observed was negative (◯).
Moreover, the bottle temperature measured the PET bottle temperature before a washing | cleaning apparatus.

As a result, as shown in Table 2, it was confirmed that the PET bottle A molded and sterilized in the first embodiment of the present invention was sterilized reliably.
On the other hand, it was confirmed that the bacteria were alive in the PET bottle B sterilized by another apparatus without heating the container. Therefore, the present invention sterilized at a timing when the container temperature is high can surely sterilize the container without separately heating it.

  The sterilization method and sterilization apparatus of the present invention are suitable for facilities that include a filling unit downstream of a molding sterilization line for blow-molding a container from a preform and continuously perform from container molding to filling. It can be applied to any equipment that performs.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Sterilizer 101 ... Molding area 102 ... Cleaning area 103 ... Transfer area 110 ... Blow molding unit 111 ... Inner surface injection means 112 ... Aseptic air supply means (blow molding unit) of)
113 ... Blow molding turret 114 ... Preform loading turret 115 ... Container discharge turret 116 ... Oven 120 ... Cleaning unit 121 ... Transfer turret 130 ... Transfer unit 131 ... Outer surface Ejecting means 132 ... Exhaust means (for transfer unit)
133u ... Transfer turret (most upstream)
133m ... Transfer turret (middle)
133d ... Transfer turret (downstream)
P: Preform introduction path J: Filling unit

Claims (13)

A sterilization method for sterilizing a container in a molded sterilization line,
The molding sterilization line has a transfer area for connecting a molding area for blow molding and a filling area for filling a container with contents,
A sterilization method comprising sterilizing an outer surface of a container in the transfer area.   The sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization of the outer surface of the container is performed during the transfer of the container in the transfer area after the sterilization of the inner surface of the container.   The sterilization method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner surface of the container is sterilized in the molding area.   The sterilization method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner surface of the container is sterilized in the transfer area.   The transfer area is maintained at a positive pressure, a cleaning area for cleaning the container is provided immediately before the filling area, and the transfer area other than the cleaning area is maintained at a lower pressure than at least the cleaning area. 5. The sterilization method according to any one of 4.   The sterilization method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the molding area and the transfer area are maintained at a positive pressure, and the transfer area is maintained at a lower pressure than at least the molding area. A sterilization apparatus having a blow molding unit for molding a container and means for sterilizing the outer surface of the container,
A transfer unit provided with transfer means for connecting the blow molding unit and a filling unit for filling the container with the contents is provided;
The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit is provided with an outer surface sterilization means for sterilizing the outer surface of the container.   The sterilizing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the outer surface sterilizing means is provided after the means for sterilizing the inner surface of the container.   The sterilization apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein an inner surface sterilization means for sterilizing an inner surface of the container is provided in the blow molding unit.   The sterilization apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein an inner surface sterilization means for sterilizing the inner surface of the container is provided in the transfer unit. A washing unit for washing the container is provided immediately before the filling unit in the transfer unit,
In the cleaning unit, a positive pressure means is provided,
The sterilization apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the transfer unit other than the cleaning unit is provided with an evacuation unit that maintains a lower pressure than the cleaning unit. In the molding unit, a positive pressure means is provided,
The sterilizer according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the transfer unit is provided with an evacuation unit that maintains a lower pressure than the blow molding unit. The blow molding unit has at least a blow molding turret, a preform carry-in turret and a container discharge turret adjacent to the blow molding turret,
A partial internal space on the upstream side of the transfer unit overlaps with a partial internal space on the downstream side of the blow molding unit,
The sterilizer according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein the container discharge turret is disposed in the overlapping internal space.

Images