JPH04367428A - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizer suitable for sterilizing containers or lids of containers into which desired contents are filled aseptically.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art When the contents of soft drinks and the like are filled aseptically into containers such as cans and bottles, the containers and their lids are sterilized while they are still unused. In this case, there are two methods for sterilization: the moist heat (steam) method and the dry heat (hot air) method, but the moist heat method is common and is effective for sterilizing containers and lids in an atmosphere of high-temperature steam. Heat is transferred (12
5℃ or higher), reliable sterilization is performed.

However, in the moist heat method, water vapor is exhausted from the sterilizer, so water droplets adhere to the surroundings of the device and mold is likely to grow, which requires work to be removed, and in some cases, mold may enter the device. To prevent this, it is necessary to enclose the entire device. In addition, if an abnormality occurs in the container or lid transfer mechanism (conveyor, chute, etc.), it may take time to lower the temperature inside the device, inspect and repair the device, and then raise the temperature again.
Poor maintenance.

In addition, when the lid (metal cap) of a heat-sensitive container such as a resin container is sterilized and attached to the container, the temperature of the lid is lowered by natural cooling or forced cooling. As a result, the temperature around the lid transfer chute rises and falls due to the heat of the lid, and as a result, dew condensation occurs around the chute, which requires work to remove the condensation, making the sterilization process difficult. Become.

On the other hand, when sterilizing using the dry heat method, if the containers and lids are not placed in the dry heat storage for sterilization for a long time, the temperature of the containers and lids will not rise sufficiently, resulting in poor workability. There were problems with reliability.

[0006]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] The problem to be solved is that the conventional wet heat method has poor maintenance and workability, and the dry heat method has problems in terms of workability and reliability. be.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A first means according to the present invention is that an unused container to be aseptically filled with a desired content or a lid 50 of the container is placed along a predetermined direction at an upstream position of a filling machine line. A heating means 17 that performs high-frequency heating on the container or lid 50 at a transfer path position where the container or lid 50 is transported by the transport means 20. This is a sterilization device characterized by the following.

[0008] In the second means, the transfer means 20 is a disc 3.
A concave portion in which the containers or lids 50 are successively accommodated is formed at the peripheral edge of the disk 30, and the disk 30 is rotated at a predetermined speed or at a constant interval, and the high-frequency heating is performed. The heating means 17 is the container or the lid 50
The sterilizing device according to the first means is characterized in that it is installed on the back of a person.

[0009]

[Effect] According to this method, by raising the temperature of the container or lid by high-frequency heating, reliable sterilization is possible using the dry heat method, and the maintenance of the device is easy and the workability is excellent. Sterilization equipment can be provided.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the sterilizer according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the device of this example is
For example, a metal cap is attached to an unused plastic bottle into which soft drinks are filled aseptically.
It is configured to be sterilized by heat generated by high-frequency heating.

In other words, in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 showing the arrow II in FIG. It has a second casing 5. The second casing 5 is attached to the first casing 3 by a sliding hinge 7, so that the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 can be separated from each other. Note that the second casing 5 is provided with a window for observing the inside of the first casing 3. The window is closed by a glass 9, and a window cover 13 that can be opened and closed by a hinge 11 is provided in front of the glass 9.

Here, the inner bottom surface of the first casing 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a transfer chute (
A transport means) 20 is provided. The transfer chute 20 includes a rectangular tube 20a having a substantially C-shaped cross section with a portion cut out along the longitudinal direction, and two linear members 20b, 20b disposed in the notch space 20A of the rectangular tube 20a. The cap 50 is guided by the linear member 20b and is prevented from protruding from the cutout space 20A. In this case, if the cap 50 has a relatively large outer diameter, the linear member 20b is not necessarily necessary because it will not protrude from the cutout space 20A.

Further, in the width direction of the transfer chute 20, magnetic flux generating sections (heating means) 17, 17 for performing high frequency heating are provided on both inner surfaces of the first casing 3. The magnetic flux generating section 17 is mainly composed of a coil or the like, and the high frequency magnetic flux generated from the magnetic flux generating section 17 generates heat in the cap 50 in the transfer chute 20, so that the square tube 20a
A plurality of through holes a for passing magnetic flux are provided. Note that the configuration that allows the magnetic flux to efficiently reach the cap 50 is as follows:
Examples include a configuration in which the square tube 20a is made of glass, quartz, ceramics, or a resin that is resistant to high temperatures, and a configuration in which rod-shaped members are arranged in a drainboard shape at intervals (particularly when it is made of metal).

The frequency, magnetic flux density, etc. for generating magnetic flux are set so that the temperature of the cap 50 is about 125° C., and therefore, various bacteria existing in the cap 50 are sterilized by the heat. In addition, in cases where magnetic flux is generated and sterilization processing is performed, the first casing 3 and the second casing 5 are integrated with a so-called snap lock 15 to prevent the magnetic flux from leaking to the outside, and to prevent the magnetic flux from leaking outside. 1 The casing 3 is fixed by screws 70 or welding, etc.
It is fixed to a suitable member 60. In addition, the cap 50 can be transferred by the force of compressed air, by a catch conveyor, or by its own weight by tilting the device 1. In particular, if the cap 50 is moved by sterile hot air, the sterilizing effect can be achieved at the same time. can be made certain.

As explained above, in this embodiment, while the cap 50 is being transferred by the transfer chute 20, the cap 50 is
0 is placed in the magnetic flux from the magnetic flux generating section 17. Therefore, since the cap 50 receives the magnetic flux and generates heat (high frequency heating), sterilization using a dry heat method can be performed. Since the heat generation temperature of the cap 50 can be made sufficiently high, the sterilization process can be performed reliably. In this case, it is preferable to measure the temperature of the cap 50 with a heat sensor and perform desired temperature control (sterilization treatment control) based on the measurement result.

Furthermore, since it is a dry heat method, maintenance of the apparatus 1 is easy and workability is excellent. Note that device 1
Examples of containers to be sterilized include cans, while examples of lids include can lids and metal caps for bottles and the like.

[0017] According to the above-mentioned apparatus, the temperature of the container or lid 50 is raised by high-frequency heating (magnetic flux generating section 17), thereby making it possible to sterilize reliably by dry heat method, and also to improve the efficiency of the apparatus. It is possible to provide a sterilizer that is easy to maintain and has excellent workability.

FIG. 4 also explains another embodiment of the transport means. In this figure, at A, the transport means are constituted by a disc 30. The caps 50 are sequentially supplied from the hopper 31, and the caps 50 are accommodated in the recesses 30a sequentially formed on the peripheral edge of the disk 30. Furthermore, a guide member 32 of the cap 50 is provided along the peripheral edge of the disc 30. Furthermore, 33 is the transferred cap 5
This is a supply port for supplying 0 to the filling machine line.

A concave portion 30a on the peripheral edge of this disk 30
A magnetic flux generating section 17 is provided along the path in which the magnetic flux generating section 17 is formed. That is, in B of the figure, the magnetic flux generating section 17 irradiates the disk 30 with high frequency waves from the back side of the cap 50 being transferred. 34 is a plate for preventing the cap 50 from falling, and 35 is a key 8 for rotating the disc 30.

Therefore, according to this device, by rotating the disk 30 at a predetermined speed, the caps 50 sequentially supplied from the hopper 31 are transferred while being guided by the member 32, and are transferred from the supply port 33 to the filling machine line. is supplied to In this case, by the time the cap 50 reaches the supply port 33 from the hopper 31, a predetermined time has elapsed according to the rotation of the disk 30 at a predetermined speed, and sufficient high-frequency heating can be performed to ensure sterilization. can be done.

At this time, if the high frequency output is low, the rotation of the disk 30 may be made intermittently and moved at intervals to ensure sufficient heating by the high frequency, or the rotation of the disk 30 may be stopped. It is also possible to move at a desired low speed.

That is, according to this device, the above-mentioned chute-type transfer means prevents the cap from passing through the chute in a short period of time when the chute is empty at the start of processing, etc., and sterilization can be carried out. This eliminates the fear of being inadequate.

As can be understood from the above explanation, in the sterilizer according to the present invention, the container or the lid is transferred by the transfer means, and the container or the lid is subjected to high-frequency heating at the transfer route position, whereby the container or the lid is heated by high frequency. The lid body is sterilized. Therefore, the temperature of the container or lid is sufficiently raised, and reliable sterilization becomes possible.

[0024] Furthermore, since it is a dry heat method, maintenance of the apparatus can be easily performed and workability is excellent. Furthermore, when the transfer means is a disk, the time for sterilization treatment can be accurately set.

[0025]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, by raising the temperature of the container or lid by high-frequency heating, reliable sterilization is possible using a dry heat method, and the maintenance of the device is easy and workability is improved. is now able to provide superior sterilization equipment.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an example of a sterilization device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the same.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the same.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of another example.

[Explanation of symbols]

17 Magnetic flux generation part (heating means) 20 Transfer chute (transfer means) 30 Disc (transportation means) 50 Cap (lid body)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transfer means for transferring an unused container to be aseptically filled with desired contents or a lid of the container while being guided along a predetermined direction at a pre-stage position of a filling machine line; and the transfer means. 1. A sterilizer comprising: heating means for performing high-frequency heating on the container or lid at a transfer route position along which the container or lid is transferred. 2. The transfer means is characterized in that a concave portion is formed at the periphery of a disc, in which the containers or lids are successively accommodated, and the disc is rotated at a predetermined speed or at regular intervals. The sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the heating means for performing the high-frequency heating is installed on the back of the container or the lid.