JPH0725375B2 - Aseptic filling and packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an aseptic filling and packaging machine capable of reliably and quickly pre-sterilizing piping of a packaging machine for aseptically filling a liquid.

<Prior Art> In an aseptic filling and packaging machine, the inside of the pipe must be pre-sterilized.As this pre-sterilization method, a sterilizing agent is injected into the pipe and then washed with sterile water. It was common.

In order to completely sterilize and wash the inside of the pipe using this method, it was necessary to fill the inside of the pipe with a sterilizing agent and aseptic water.

However, if the diameter of the pipe is small or the pipe becomes complicated, air stagnation will inevitably occur in the pipe, and thus complete sterilization and cleaning are difficult.

In order to eliminate the air pool generated in this pipe, it was necessary to open and close the valve while pumping the sterilizing agent and sterile water with a pump or the like.

Although it is possible to eliminate the air pools in this way, it is impossible to confirm whether or not the air pools have been reliably removed. Therefore, it takes a long time by all means and the time loss is large.

Also, in an aseptic filling and packaging machine, when trying to control each process by automatic control, it is not possible to confirm whether or not the air pool of the pipe can be reliably eliminated in the preliminary sterilization.
Considering safety, I had to take a long time.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem of air accumulation in the piping before starting the operation of the aseptic packaging machine, and to ensure the pre-sterilization,
It is an aseptic packaging machine that can be performed in a short time.

<Means for Solving the Problem> The present invention is, before the start of operation, cleaning after the end of operation, in a sterile filling and packaging machine having a pre-sterilization means for performing a sterilization step,
A cleaning liquid with a valve, a pipe connected to a filling machine with a valve like the tank for sterilizing liquid, a vacuum pump for cleaning the pipe through the valve and evacuating the pipe before sterilizing A vacuum device provided is provided.

<Operation> To pre-sterilize the aseptic filling and packaging machine, first close the cleaning solution connected to the pipe, the tank for the sterilizing solution, the valve of the filling machine, then open the valve of the vacuum device, and operate the vacuum pump of the vacuum device. , Aspirate the air in the pipe.

Next, after vacuum suction is completed, the valve of the vacuum device is closed, the valve of the tank for cleaning liquid and sterilizing liquid is opened, and the cleaning liquid is
Fill with sterilizing solution. In this state, after a lapse of a certain time, the valves of the cleaning liquid tank and the sterilizing liquid tank are closed, and then the valve of the filling machine is opened, and the cleaning liquid and the sterilizing liquid in the pipe are discharged to complete the preliminary sterilization.

After that, hot air may be blown into the pipe to perform drying, or more reliable preliminary sterilization can be performed by repeating the above process not only once but several times.

<Example> An example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an embodiment, in which a filling liquid supply unit A, a sterile air supply unit B, a filling tank C, a filling device D, a sterile chamber E, a cleaning liquid, a sterilizing liquid tank F, a cleaning liquid,
A sterilizing solution sending pump P is provided, and the above-mentioned respective parts are connected by a pipe having a valve therebetween.

Liquid delivery pipe connecting the filling liquid supply unit A and the lower portion of the filling tank C
The valve 10 is provided with a four-way valve 11, a three-way valve 12, and a valve 13 operated by a liquid level sensor H provided on the inner surface of the filling tank C from the filling liquid supply section A side. And four-way valve 11
In the lower part, a pipe 15 connected to the pump P, a valve 16 from between the three-way valve 12 and the valve 13 is provided, and a spray ball 17 is provided at the tip, and the spray ball 17 is incorporated in the filling tank C. Pipe 18 is branched. A pipe 33 is provided below the three-way valve 12 so that the nozzle 32 at the tip reaches the aseptic chamber E.

A vacuum device G having a vacuum pump 50 is connected to the pipe 15 via a valve 51. Then, valves 52 and 53 are provided on both sides of the position where the pipe 15 is connected to the vacuum device G.

The sterile air supply unit B is connected to the pipe 15 by a pipe 19.

The filling device D has a valve 20 on the upper side, a metering section 23 provided with a piston 22 that moves up and down by an air cylinder 21 on the lower side, and a filling nozzle 24 that reaches the aseptic chamber B from the upper end of the metering section 23. The valve 20 can be maintained in an open state by a pressing tool 24 provided outside, and
The movement distance of the air cylinder 21 can be controlled by the spacer 25.

To connect this filling device D to the other parts, first, fill tank C
Connecting the lower end of the pipe and the upper part of the filling device D, the pipe 26, the weighing unit
A pipe 29 provided with a three-way valve 27 and a filter section 28 including a vent filter is connected from the metering section 23 side, which connects the lower end of 23 and the tank F.

Exhaust pipes 30 and 31 are provided below the three-way valve 27 and the filter unit 28. Also, the upper part of the filling tank C and the pipe 29 are the vent fill filter 28.
And a three-way valve 27 are connected by a pipe 36 having a valve 35 in the middle. Aseptic Chamber E
Inside is equipped with devices (not shown) for sterilizing the container, filling the container, sealing, and transporting, and the lower end and the tank F are piped.
Connected by 34.

Further, from below the tank F, a pipe 40 having a filter 39 is connected to the pump P, and a water supply unit 37 and a steam supply unit 38 are connected via the pipes.

Further, the pressing tool 24 and the air cylinder 21 of the filling device D are
The connecting part has a structure that is shielded from the outside air by steam.

In order to perform sterilization and cleaning using the apparatus, first, the four-way valve 11 and the three-way valve 12 are connected to the liquid delivery pipe 10 and the pipe 15.
And valves 13, 16, 27, so as to communicate with the pipe 33.
35 is opened, the valves 52 and 53 are closed, and the valve 22 of the filling device D is positioned above, the valve 51 is opened, the vacuum pump 50 of the vacuum device G is operated, and the pipe
Aspirate the air in 10, 15, 33.

After vacuuming the air in the pipe, the vacuum pump 50 is stopped, the valve 51 is closed, the valves 52 and 53 are then connected, and the valve 20 of the filling device D is positioned below by the pressing tool 24, and When the pump P is operated with the piston 22 located at the lower end, the cleaning / sterilizing solution in the tank F is passed through the pipes 36, 15, 10 and 18 to the filling tank C, and then the pipe 26, the metering. Part 23, and one to tank F via pipe 29, the other to nozzle 24, sterile chamber E,
It is returned to the tank F via the pipe 34.

Further, the one that has passed through the pipe 33 from the three-way valve 12 sterilizes the aseptic chamber E by the nozzle 32 and is returned to the tank F that has passed through the pipe 34.

After the completion of the liquid feeding, the aseptic air supply unit B supplies heated aseptic air through the same path to complete the cleaning and sterilization.

Next, when filling the filling liquid, the valves 11, 12, 13, 52,
Open 53 and pipe a predetermined amount of filling liquid into filling tank C.
Store through 10. Then, the spacer 25 of the filling device D is inserted, and the piston 22 is moved by the air cylinder 21 to the measuring portion 23.
The pipes 29 and 36 are communicated with each other while the valves 27 and 35 are opened while being able to reciprocate between them.

In this state, the piston 22 is reciprocally moved, the piston 22 descends, and the air pushed out below the measuring unit 23 is pipe 29,
It is supplied to the space of the filling tank C through 36. And
The piston 22 moves up to fill the filling liquid of the measuring unit 23 with the nozzle.
When it is sent to 24, the filter section is
Air is supplied through 28.

Therefore, even if the filling liquid in the filling tank C is reduced, the same amount of air as that for metering is supplied, so that the pressure in the filling tank C is stable, and the supply amount of the filling liquid is also stable.

After the filling is completed, the filling liquid remaining in the filling tank C and the filling device D is pressed by the pressing tool 24 on the valve 20 of the filling device D.
With the piston 22 lowered and positioned at the lower end,
Open the three-way valve 27 on the discharge side and pipe 2 into the filling tank C.
If air is sent through 9, 36, or the valves 11, 12, 13 are opened and the valve 35 is closed and air is sent from the filling liquid supply section A by air pressure, it is exhausted from the exhaust pipe 30 without waste.

<Effects of the Invention> Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, the interior of the pipe is cleaned and sterilized after being preliminarily evacuated by a vacuum device for the air in the pipe before aseptic filling and packaging. Since the cleaning liquid and the sterilizing liquid can be filled in the inside without air stagnation, the preliminary sterilization can be surely performed in a short time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention. A ... Filling liquid supply unit, B ... Aseptic air supply unit C ... Filling tank, D ... Filling device E ... Aseptic chamber, F ... Tank G ... Vacuum device, P ... Pump 10 ... Sending Liquid pipe, 22 …… Piston 23 …… Measuring section, 24 …… Filling nozzle 50 …… Vacuum pump, 51,52,53 …… Valve

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An aseptic filling and packaging machine having a pre-sterilization means for carrying out washing and sterilizing steps before and after the start of operation, and a filling machine equipped with valves as well as a tank for cleaning solution and sterilizing solution equipped with valves. An aseptic filling and packaging machine, characterized in that a vacuum pump is provided in a pipe to be connected so as to bring the pipe into a vacuum state before cleaning and sterilizing the pipe via a valve.