A bottle preform sterilization device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a preform sterilization device, comprising a conveying component and a sterilizing component. The conveying component is provided with an arc-shaped conveying path. The sterilizing component is mounted on the conveying component and the conveying path passes through the sterilizing component. The sterilizing component is internally provided with diffusion zones I and II. A spatial structure is provided within the preform sterilization device to facilitate the condensation of vaporized hydrogen peroxide, causing the vaporized hydrogen peroxide to be converted into atomized hydrogen peroxide. This significantly reduces the activity and diffusion of the hydrogen peroxide, making it less likely to flow, thereby reducing the damage caused by spillage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a bottle blank sterilizing device. Background Art

[0002] In the field of aseptic filling technology, establishing a sterile environment requires not only a sterile spatial environment but also the sterility of the raw materials and accessories involved in the process, including the sterility of the preforms. Meeting this sterility requirement for the preforms lies in sterilizing them. In existing technologies, preform sterilization involves placing a closed gas chamber along the preform conveyor path. Vaporized hydrogen peroxide is then sprayed into the chamber, where it adheres to the preform surface. Its strong oxidizing properties destroy the physiological structure of bacteria, thereby achieving sterilization. Because this existing technology utilizes a saturated spray method, placing the vaporized hydrogen peroxide within the chamber, the preforms are immersed in an environment with an extremely high concentration of vaporized hydrogen peroxide after passing through the chamber, causing the vaporized hydrogen peroxide to adhere to the preform surface. This technique fills the chamber with extremely high concentrations of vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and overflowing the chamber can easily cause damage to surrounding equipment and personnel. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is how to reduce the damage caused by the overflow of hydrogen peroxide, thereby obtaining a bottle blank sterilizing device.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: the bottle blank sterilization device includes a conveying component and a sterilizing component, the conveying component is provided with an arc-shaped conveying path, the sterilizing component is installed on the conveying component and the conveying path passes through the sterilizing component, the sterilizing component includes an upper warehouse component and a lower warehouse component, the upper warehouse component includes an upper air warehouse and a spray unit I, the upper air warehouse is provided with an air inlet end isolation chamber I, a sterilization chamber I, and an air outlet end isolation chamber I distributed along the conveying path, the upper air warehouse is provided between the air inlet end isolation chamber I and the sterilization chamber I There is a partition I, the upper air bin is provided with a partition II between the sterilization chamber I and the air outlet isolation chamber I, the injection unit I is located in the sterilization chamber I and is located in the middle of the sterilization chamber I, and the two ends of the sterilization chamber I are provided with a diffusion area I, one of which is located between one end of the injection unit I and the partition I, and the other diffusion area I is located between the other end of the injection unit I and the partition II, and the two ends of the upper air bin, the partition I, and the partition II are provided with a notch I corresponding to the bottle mouth of the bottle blank, and the lower bin component includes a lower air bin, an injection unit Ⅱ, the lower air bin is provided with an air inlet isolation chamber Ⅱ, a sterilization chamber Ⅱ, and an air outlet isolation chamber Ⅱ distributed along the conveying path, the lower air bin is provided with a partition Ⅲ between the air inlet isolation chamber Ⅱ and the sterilization chamber Ⅱ, the lower air bin is provided with a partition Ⅳ between the sterilization chamber Ⅱ and the air outlet isolation chamber Ⅱ, the injection unit Ⅱ is located in the sterilization chamber Ⅱ and at one end of the sterilization chamber Ⅱ, the distance from the injection unit Ⅱ to the air inlet isolation chamber Ⅱ is less than the distance from the injection unit Ⅱ to the air inlet isolation chamber Ⅳ, the other end of the sterilization chamber Ⅱ is provided with a diffusion area Ⅱ, the diffusion area Ⅱ Located between the injection unit II and the partition IV, both ends of the lower air bin, the partition III and the partition IV are provided with a notch II corresponding to the body of the bottle blank, the air inlet end isolation chamber I is located above the air inlet end isolation chamber II and the conveying path passes between the air inlet end isolation chamber I and the air inlet end isolation chamber II, the sterilization chamber I is located above the sterilization chamber II and the conveying path passes between the sterilization chamber I and the sterilization chamber II, the air outlet end isolation chamber I is located above the air outlet end isolation chamber II and the conveying path passes between the air outlet end isolation chamber I and the air outlet end isolation chamber II.

[0005] When the upper and lower air chambers are closed, they form a distribution space for vaporized hydrogen peroxide. Since spray unit I does not fully occupy sterilization chamber I of the upper chamber, and spray unit II does not fully occupy sterilization chamber II of the lower chamber, the gaps left behind create diffusion zones I and II that serve as condensation areas for the vaporized hydrogen peroxide, causing it to transform from a gas into a liquid and then into atomized droplets. The same mass of gas and liquid has different volumes. As we all know, the volume of a substance decreases when it changes from gas to liquid. Therefore, when the vaporized hydrogen peroxide moves away from the spray unit and has sufficient space to cool, the proportion of atomized hydrogen peroxide in the air decreases. This reduces the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the air. Even if overflow occurs, the overflow will be air containing atomized hydrogen peroxide, not vaporized hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide concentration in the atomized hydrogen peroxide air is lower than that in the vaporized hydrogen peroxide air. On the other hand, atomized hydrogen peroxide is affected by the surface tension of the liquid and cannot penetrate into small spaces such as grooves, gaps, and cracks on the surface of objects. It is very easy to gather into large liquid droplets, that is, it has poor fluidity or poor diffusion. Under the action of its own weight, it will flow downward, and its overflow diffusion ability in the air will be greatly reduced, which will ultimately reduce the damage to equipment and personnel.

[0006] The high-concentration environment required for preform sterilization is created at the output of spray units I and II. To ensure the high-concentration vaporized hydrogen peroxide environment is closer to the preforms, spray unit I comprises a main air pipe I, a bronchial pipe I, a vertical nozzle, and an oblique nozzle I. Main air pipe I is curved, with the vertical and oblique nozzles I mounted on it via bronchial pipe I. The vertical nozzles are spaced apart along the conveying path and positioned above it. The oblique nozzles I are staggered in the conveying direction and positioned on either side of the conveying path above. Spray unit II comprises a main air pipe II, a bronchial pipe II, and an oblique nozzle II. Main air pipe II is curved, with the oblique nozzles II mounted on it via bronchial pipe II. The oblique nozzles II are arranged side by side in the conveying direction and positioned on either side of the conveying path below it. These bronchial structures bring the nozzles closer to the preforms, reducing the distance between the vaporized hydrogen peroxide spray and the preforms. This technical means can not only ensure that an environment of high-concentration vaporized hydrogen peroxide is formed locally inside the sterilized parts, but also achieve the best sterilization effect of vaporized hydrogen peroxide.

[0007] Vertical Nozzle I is used to spray vaporized hydrogen peroxide inside the preform's mouth, while Oblique Nozzle I is used to spray vaporized hydrogen peroxide outside the mouth. Because the internal and external structural features of the mouth are relatively concentrated, spraying vaporized hydrogen peroxide simultaneously on both sides of the mouth can easily cause gas turbulence, which hinders the vaporized hydrogen peroxide from adhering to the preform's surface. Therefore, Vertical Nozzle I is positioned between Oblique Nozzle I in the conveying direction of the conveyor path, staggering the vertical and oblique nozzles.

[0008] In order to handle the air containing hydrogen peroxide overflowing from the edges of both sides of the upper air chamber, the upper chamber component also includes a central air chamber, which is surrounded by the upper air chamber. When in operation, the central air chamber is connected to the negative pressure pipeline to recover the overflowing air by negative pressure suction.

[0009] Vaporized hydrogen peroxide is highly reactive and can corrode the nozzle. If the nozzle becomes clogged, the preform sterilization operation cannot be performed. In order to monitor the serious event that both injection unit I and injection unit II are unable to spray vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and in the case where the preform is made of a transparent material, this technical solution sets a visual mechanism on the preform conveying path. Specifically, the preform sterilization device also includes a visual detection component, which includes a light source and a camera. The conveying path is located between the light source and the camera, and the light source and the camera are distributed in the vertical direction. If the preform is made of a transparent material, vaporized hydrogen peroxide will cool after adhering to the surface of the preform and form white spots, causing the preform's transmittance to decrease. Therefore, the camera can detect whether hydrogen peroxide is attached to the surface of the preform by capturing a photo of the preform, and then, based on this information, detect whether injection unit I and injection unit II are completely clogged.

[0010] The present invention adopts the above technical solution: a space structure is provided inside the bottle blank sterilization device to facilitate the condensation of vaporized hydrogen peroxide, thereby prompting the vaporized hydrogen peroxide to become atomized hydrogen peroxide, thereby greatly weakening the activity and diffusion of hydrogen peroxide, making it difficult to flow, thereby reducing the damage caused by the overflow of hydrogen peroxide. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a preform sterilizing device according to the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 This is a front view of an upper bin component of a preform sterilizing device according to the present invention;

[0014] Figure 3 A three-dimensional diagram of an upper bin component of a preform sterilizing device according to the present invention;

[0015] Figure 4This is a front view of an upper bin component of a preform sterilizing device according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 5 A three-dimensional diagram of an upper bin component of a preform sterilizing device according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The preform sterilization device includes conveying components, sterilization components, and visual inspection components, such as Figure 1 、 2 , 3, 4, and 5.

[0018] The conveying components include a star wheel and a guard plate. The star wheel is mounted on a drive mechanism. The guard plate is directly fixed to the frame and positioned at the edge of the star wheel. The star wheel is provided with evenly spaced grooves, and the guard plate is spaced from the grooved edge of the star wheel. This creates an arc-shaped conveying path between the star wheel and the guard plate. The preform's mouth is hooked onto the star wheel and guard plate, embedded in the groove. The unidirectional rotation of the star wheel drives the preform forward. This arc-shaped conveying path also creates an arc-shaped motion path for the preform.

[0019] The sterilization components include an upper bin component and a lower bin component. The upper bin component includes an upper air bin 1, an injection unit I, and a central air bin 24. The upper air bin 1 and the central air bin 24 are both installed on the frame and have fixed spatial positions. After installation, the upper air bin 1 is located above the conveying path, and the central air bin 24 is located above the star wheel. The upper air bin 1 is provided with an air inlet isolation chamber I2, a sterilization chamber I3, and an air outlet isolation chamber I4 distributed along the conveying path. The upper air bin 1 is provided with a partition I5 between the air inlet isolation chamber I2 and the sterilization chamber I3, and a partition II6 between the sterilization chamber I3 and the air outlet isolation chamber I4. The injection unit I is located in the sterilization chamber I3 and in the middle of the sterilization chamber I3. Diffusion areas I7 are provided at both ends of the sterilization chamber I3, one of which is located between one end of the injection unit I and the partition I5, and the other is located between the other end of the injection unit I and the partition II6. Spray unit I includes a main air pipe I 17, a bronchial pipe I 18, a vertical nozzle 19, and an oblique nozzle I 20. The main air pipe I 17 is curved and connected to multiple bronchial pipes I 18. The vertical nozzles 19 and oblique nozzles I 20 are mounted on the main air pipe I 17 via the bronchial pipes I 18. The main air pipe I 17 is mounted on the upper air chamber 1 and connected to the external air supply line. The vertical nozzles 19 are spaced apart along the conveying path and located above the conveying path. The oblique nozzles I 20 are staggered in the conveying direction of the conveying path and located on both sides of the conveying path above the conveying path. In the conveying direction of the conveying path, the vertical nozzles 19I are located between the oblique nozzles I 20. The vertical nozzles 19I spray vaporized hydrogen peroxide toward the inside of the bottle mouth of the preform, while the oblique nozzles I 20 spray vaporized hydrogen peroxide toward the outside of the bottle mouth. Notches I8 are provided at both ends of the upper air chamber 1, as well as on partitions I5 and II6, corresponding to the bottle mouth of the preform. The central air chamber 24 is a cylindrical structure, with the upper air chamber 1 surrounding it. The concave edge of the upper air chamber 1 abuts the central air chamber 24. During operation, the central air chamber 24 is connected to a negative pressure line to remove any excess gas.

[0020] The lower bin components include a lower air bin 9 and an injection unit II. The lower air bin 9 is installed on the frame and has a fixed spatial position. After installation, the lower air bin 9 is located below the conveying path. The lower air bin 9 is provided with an air inlet isolation chamber II 10, a sterilization chamber II 11, and an air outlet isolation chamber II 12 distributed along the conveying path. The lower air bin 9 is provided with a partition III 13 between the air inlet isolation chamber II 10 and the sterilization chamber II 11, and the lower air bin 9 is provided with a partition IV 14 between the sterilization chamber II 11 and the air outlet isolation chamber II 12. The injection unit II is located in the sterilization chamber II 11 and at one end of the sterilization chamber II 11. The distance from the injection unit II to the air inlet isolation chamber II 10 is smaller than the distance from the injection unit II to the air inlet isolation chamber IV. The other end of the sterilization chamber II 11 is provided with a diffusion area II 15, and the diffusion area II 15 is located between the injection unit II and the partition IV 14. Notches II 16 corresponding to the body of the preform are located on both ends of the lower air bin 9, as well as on partitions III 13 and IV 14. Spray unit II comprises a main air pipe II 21, a lateral pipe II 22, and an oblique nozzle II 23. The main air pipe II 21 is curved, and the oblique nozzles II 23 are mounted on it via lateral pipes II 22. These nozzles II 23 are arranged side by side along the conveying path and on either side of the conveying path. They spray vaporized hydrogen peroxide toward the body of the preform. The main air pipe II 21 is fixed to the lower air bin 9 and connected to an external air supply line.

[0021] After installation, the air inlet isolation chamber I2 is located above the air inlet isolation chamber II10, and the conveying path passes between the air inlet isolation chamber I2 and the air inlet isolation chamber II10. The sterilization chamber I3 is located above the sterilization chamber II11, and the conveying path passes between the sterilization chamber I3 and the sterilization chamber II11. The air outlet isolation chamber I4 is located above the air outlet isolation chamber II12, and the conveying path passes between the air outlet isolation chamber I4 and the air outlet isolation chamber II12. Therefore, the conveying path passes through the sterilization component. Along the conveying direction of the conveying path, the visual inspection component is located downstream of the sterilization component. The visual inspection component includes a light source 25 and a camera 26, both of which are mounted on the frame. The conveying path is located between the light source 25 and the camera 26, and the light source 25 and the camera 26 are distributed in the vertical direction. The visual inspection component detects whether hydrogen peroxide is present on the preform.

[0022] During operation, the inlet isolation chamber I2, outlet isolation chamber I4, inlet isolation chamber II10, and outlet isolation chamber II12 are all connected to negative pressure lines to draw away gas escaping from sterilization chambers I3 and II11 under negative pressure. Injection units I and II spray vaporized hydrogen peroxide toward the preforms located on the conveyor path. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide diffuses into diffusion areas I7 and II15, where it gradually atomizes into small droplets of liquid hydrogen peroxide. The atomized hydrogen peroxide then enters the inlet isolation chamber I2, outlet isolation chamber I4, inlet isolation chamber II10, and outlet isolation chamber II12, where it is drawn away by the negative pressure lines. If the atomized hydrogen peroxide overflows from the sterilization components into the air, it can be drawn away by the central gas reservoir 24. Furthermore, the fluidity and activity of the liquid hydrogen peroxide decrease dramatically, minimizing the risk of spillage.

Claims

1. A preform sterilization device, comprising a conveying component and a sterilizing component, wherein the conveying component is provided with an arc-shaped conveying path, the sterilizing component is mounted on the conveying component and the conveying path passes through the sterilizing component, characterized in that: The sterilization component includes an upper bin component and a lower bin component, the upper bin component includes an upper gas bin (1) and an injection unit I, the upper gas bin (1) is provided with an air inlet isolation chamber I (2), a sterilization chamber I (3), and an air outlet isolation chamber I (4) distributed along the conveying path, the upper gas bin (1) is provided with a partition I (5) between the air inlet isolation chamber I (2) and the sterilization chamber I (3), the upper gas bin (1) is provided with a partition II (6) between the sterilization chamber I (3) and the air outlet isolation chamber I (4), the injection unit I is located in the sterilization chamber I (3) and in the middle of the sterilization chamber I (3), and the two ends of the sterilization chamber I (3) are provided with a partition II (6). A diffusion area I (7) is provided, wherein one diffusion area I (7) is located between one end of the injection unit I and the partition I (5), and the other diffusion area I (7) is located between the other end of the injection unit I and the partition II (6). Both ends of the upper air bin (1), the partition I (5), and the partition II (6) are provided with a notch I (8) corresponding to the bottle mouth of the bottle blank. The lower bin component includes a lower air bin (9) and an injection unit II. The lower air bin (9) is provided with an air inlet end isolation chamber II (10), a sterilization chamber II (11), and an air outlet end isolation chamber II (12) distributed along the conveying path. The lower air bin (9) is isolated at the air inlet end. A partition plate III (13) is provided between the chamber II (10) and the sterilization chamber II (11); a partition plate IV (14) is provided between the sterilization chamber II (11) and the air outlet isolation chamber II (12) of the lower air chamber (9); the injection unit II is located in the sterilization chamber II (11) and at one end of the sterilization chamber II (11); the distance between the injection unit II and the air inlet isolation chamber II (10) is smaller than the distance between the injection unit II and the air inlet isolation chamber IV; a diffusion area II (15) is provided at the other end of the sterilization chamber II (11); the diffusion area II (15) is located between the injection unit II and the partition plate IV (14); both ends of the lower air chamber (9), The partitions III (13) and IV (14) are both provided with notches II (16) corresponding to the body of the preform. The air inlet isolation chamber I (2) is located above the air inlet isolation chamber II (10), and the conveying path passes between the air inlet isolation chamber I (2) and the air inlet isolation chamber II (10). The sterilization chamber I (3) is located above the sterilization chamber II (11), and the conveying path passes between the sterilization chamber I (3) and the sterilization chamber II (11). The air outlet isolation chamber I (4) is located above the air outlet isolation chamber II (12), and the conveying path passes between the air outlet isolation chamber I (4) and the air outlet isolation chamber II (12).

2. The preform sterilizing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The injection unit I includes a main air pipe I (17), a bronchial pipe I (18), a vertical nozzle (19), and an oblique nozzle I (20). The main air pipe I (17) is curved in an arc shape. The vertical nozzle (19) and the oblique nozzle I (20) are both installed on the main air pipe I (17) through the bronchial pipe I (18). The vertical nozzle (19) is arranged at intervals along the conveying path and is located above the conveying path. The oblique nozzle I (20) is staggered in the conveying direction of the conveying path and is located on both sides above the conveying path. The injection unit II includes a main air pipe II (21), a bronchial pipe II (22), and an oblique nozzle II (23). The main air pipe II (21) is curved in an arc shape. The oblique nozzle II (23) is installed on the main air pipe II (21) through the bronchial pipe II (22). The oblique nozzle II (23) is distributed side by side in the conveying direction of the conveying path and is located on both sides below the conveying path.

3. The preform sterilizing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The vertical nozzle (19) I is located between the oblique nozzles I (20) in the conveying direction of the conveying path.

4. The preform sterilizing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper storage component further comprises a central air storage (24), and the upper air storage (1) surrounds the central air storage (24).

5. The preform sterilizing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The preform sterilizing device further comprises a visual detection component, which comprises a light source (25) and a camera (26). The conveying path is located between the light source (25) and the camera (26), and the light source (25) and the camera (26) are distributed in a vertical direction.

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