Beverage filling method and device

Abstract

Water steam is sprayed to preforms 1 while continuously transferring the preforms 1, the preforms are preliminarily sterilized by heat application, bottles are produced by blow-molding the thus preliminarily sterilized performs in a molding die 4 which is continuously transferred with the preforms, the bottles are taken out from the continuously transferring molding die, condensed mist M or gas G of hydrogen peroxide is sprayed to the bottle in a time when the heat remains, an air rinsing process is performed, beverage fills the bottles during the continuous transferring, and the bottles are sealed with caps. The bottle sterilization processes can be simplified in an inline system.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a beverage filling method and device. Background technique [0002] In the past, as the aseptic filling method of the online production system, for example, the following methods have been proposed in patent documents 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8: ) and other preforms are sterilized at the same time, and the preforms are formed into bottles using a blow molding machine, and beverages are filled into the bottles, and then capping operations are performed to make aseptic packages. These methods are methods in which sterilization treatment is performed at a preform stage before bottle formation instead of sterilization treatment after bottle formation. [0003] Patent Documents 1, 5, 6, 7, and 9 propose the following method: injecting hydrogen peroxide or other bactericide gas to the preform before blow molding to sterilize the preform, then heating the preform to an appropriate temperature for stretching, and then Perform stretch bl...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

If such a fungicide is attached to the preform and enters the molding machine and is vaporized, these chelating agents may adhere to and accumulate in the molding machine, contaminate the molding machine, and be mixed into containers such as bottles as foreign matter.

[0017] Moreover, when the sterilant is to be discharged from the preform by using the flame of the burner after the sterilant is attached to the preform, it may lead to complicated and expensive steps and devices.

[0018] In addition, according to the method of sterilizing the inside of the preform with water vapor without using a fungicide, it is necessary to maintain the preform at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time until the sterilization is effective, so there is a problem that a water removal step is required after sterilization

[0019] Furthermore, in the prior art, after sterilization by attaching a bactericide to the preform, bacteria may be mixed into the bottle when it is blow-molded with high-pressure air or when the bottle is transported to the filling area.

While it is not impossible to sterilize the high-pressure air circuit, extension rods, molds, bottle delivery area, etc. within the blow molding machine to maintain a sterile state prior to bottle manufacture, additional sterilization equipment is required in this case, or Replacement of more components with components made of chemical-resistant materials, resulting in a large initial investment

[0020] In the method of cleaning the bottle at the outlet of the blow molding machine with a decontamination agent, although dust may be removed, it is likely to fail to completely kill bacteria mixed in the bottle

Furthermore, since it is also necessary to dry the decontamination agent, there is a problem that equipment such as a blow molding machine is complicated and enlarged.

[0021] In addition, even if the preform with the bactericide attached is heated while being inserted into the mandrel or main shaft, the mouth of the preform can only be heated up to 40°C to 50°C, so the sterilizing effect is lower compared to other parts , it is difficult to say that sufficient sterilization has been carried out

That is, if the temperature of the mouth of the preform is raised to a high temperature, the sealing of the inside of the bottle may be damaged due to deformation of the mouth, etc., so the heating of the mouth has to be limited to the above-mentioned temperature range

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