JP-7856494-B2 - Method for reusing sterile water and sterile filling machine for reusing sterile water

Inventors

• 早川 睦
• 栗山 貴義

Assignees

• 大日本印刷株式会社
• 岩井機械工業株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260511

Application Date

20220606

Claims (4)

1. The containers being transported are sterilized, The sterilized container is filled with the sterilized contents in a sterile atmosphere. In a sterile filling machine that seals the container filled with the contents in a sterile atmosphere with a sterilized lid, The parts that perform the sterilization, filling, and sealing are shielded by a chamber. Sterile water at a temperature of 50°C or higher and 90°C or lower that has been sprayed into the chamber to wash away the cleaning solution or disinfectant solution is collected. A method for reusing sterile water, comprising supplying the recovered sterile water to a heat exchange device and exchanging heat with water before sterilization for producing the sterile water.
2. In the method for reusing sterile water according to claim 1, A method for reusing sterile water, wherein the temperature of the sterile water supplied into the chamber is 60°C or higher and 100°C or lower.
3. Sterilization equipment for sterilizing containers being transported. A filling device that fills the container, which has been sterilized by the aforementioned sterilization device, with sterilized contents in a sterile atmosphere. A sealing device that seals the container filled with the contents in a sterile atmosphere with a sterilized lid material, A chamber that shields the sterilization device, the filling device, and the sealing device, A sterile water recovery device for recovering sterile water at a temperature of 50°C or higher and 90°C or lower that has been sprayed into the chamber to wash away a cleaning solution or disinfectant solution , and a sterile filling machine for reusing sterile water, which is equipped with a heat exchange device for exchanging heat between the sterile water recovered by the sterile water recovery device and water before sterilization for producing the sterile water.
4. In a sterile filling machine for reusing sterile water as described in claim 3 , A sterile filling machine for reusing sterile water, configured such that the temperature of the sterile water supplied into the chamber is between 60°C and 100°C.

Description

This disclosure relates to a method for reusing sterile water in an aseptic filling machine used to fill containers such as PET bottles with beverages, specifically for rinsing the cleaning solution used to clean the aseptic filling machine or the sterilizing solution used to sterilize the aseptic filling machine, and for rinsing the containers or caps after sterilization. It also relates to an aseptic filling machine that reuses sterile water. Conventionally, in aseptic beverage filling machines, when changing the type of beverage being filled into bottles or other containers—for example, from tea to milk coffee—the beverage supply piping of the aseptic filling machine is first cleaned in place (CIP), followed by sterilizing in place (SIP) (see Patent Document 1). CIP (Clean-in-Place) is performed by first flushing a cleaning solution, such as water with an alkaline agent (e.g., caustic soda) added, through the beverage filling channel from the pipeline to the filling nozzle of the filling machine, and then flushing it with a cleaning solution, such as water with an acidic agent added. This removes any residue from the previous beverage that has adhered to the beverage filling channel (see Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). SIP (Sterilization and Injection Processing) is performed, for example, by flowing steam or hot water through the beverage filling channel that has been cleaned using the CIP (Cleaning and Imaging) method described above. This sterilizes the beverage filling channel, creating a sterile environment (see Patent Document 1). A sterile filling machine comprises a sterilization device for sterilizing containers, a filling machine for automatically filling containers with beverages, and a sealing device for sealing containers with lids. The sterilization device, filling machine, and sealing device are enclosed in a chamber that maintains a sterile atmosphere and are shielded from the outside. Since splashes of beverages from the previous filling operation adhere to the inside of the chamber enclosing the filling machine and sealing device, when switching the type of beverage to be filled, the chamber is cleaned to remove beverage splashes and other residues that adhered to the inner walls and outer surfaces of the equipment inside the chamber during the previous filling operation. This cleaning is performed, for example, by spraying a cleaning solution containing a cleaning agent into the chamber in a shower-like manner (see Patent Document 4). Furthermore, since microorganisms may enter the chamber during various operations when switching between beverage types, sterilization of the chamber is also performed. Sterilization of the chamber is carried out, for example, by supplying a disinfectant solution containing disinfectants such as peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide into the chamber in the form of a mist or shower, and then blowing hot air into the chamber to dry any remaining disinfectant solution (see Patent Document 4). When cleaning or sterilizing the chamber, sterile water is sprayed into the chamber to rinse away the cleaning or sterilizing solution. The sterile filling machine is equipped with a sterilization device that heat-sterilizes water to produce the necessary sterile water (see Patent Document 5). As described above, sterile water is used for cleaning or sterilizing the chamber before the sterile filling machine is in operation. Furthermore, once the sterile filling machine is running, the containers and lids are sterilized within the machine. Sterile water is then used to wash away any sterilizing solution adhering to the sterilized containers and lids. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-22600Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-331801Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-153245Patent No. 6056930Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-189034 This is a plan view showing a schematic of an aseptic filling machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.This shows a preform supplied to the heating section of a sterile filling machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.The above diagram shows the preform heating process, which is part of the heating section of the aseptic filling machine.This shows the blow molding process, which is one of the processes in the molding section of the above-mentioned sterile filling machine.This shows the container removal process, which is part of the molding process of the aseptic filling machine described above.This shows the disinfectant gas spraying process, which is part of the sterilization section of the above-mentioned aseptic filling machine, and is performed with the container shielded by a tunnel.This diagram shows the process of spraying disinfectant gas by inserting a disinfectant gas spraying nozzle into a container.This shows the sterile water rinsing process in the rinsing section of the above-mentioned sterile filling machine, with the container in an upright position.This shows the sterile water rinsi