Gasification disinfectant spraying device

Abstract

To provide a gasified bactericide sprayer in which a duct for connecting a gasifier and a nozzle is heated to keep a bactericide in a gaseous state, so that the bactericide gasified with the gasifier is not condensed until reaching the nozzle, which sprays the gas to a packaging material.SOLUTION: A gasified bactericide sprayer has a gasifier for gasifying a bactericide and a nozzle for spraying the gasified bactericide. The outer face from the bactericide gas discharge pipe of the gasifier to the tip of the nozzle is provided with a pipe through a fixed clearance. A heat gas supply device is provided to supply the heat gas to between the outer face from the bactericide gas discharge pipe to the tip of the nozzle and the pipe, to heat the bactericide gas discharge pipe to the tip of the nozzle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gasification sterilant spraying device for generating a sterilant gas used for sterilizing packaging materials in an aseptic filling machine and spraying the generated sterilant gas onto the packaging materials. [Background technology]

[0002] Foods and beverages are filled and distributed in various containers using aseptic filling machines, such as portioned milk, beverages in brick-shaped liquid cartons, soup in pouches, beverages in cups, and beverages in PET bottles. An aseptic filling machine is a device that fills sterilized contents into sterilized containers in a sterile atmosphere and seals them. Products produced using aseptic filling machines can be distributed and stored at room temperature, so they consume less energy than refrigerated or frozen products and have a better taste, so their use is on the rise.

[0003] As mentioned above, there are various packaging materials that become containers in aseptic filling machines, and the sterilization method varies depending on the packaging material. Although there are methods that use ultraviolet rays or electron beams, the mainstream method is to sterilize the surface of the packaging material with a germicide. Furthermore, when using a germicide to sterilize the packaging material, the packaging material for portioned milk and brick-shaped paper containers is sterilized by immersing it in the germicide, but there is also a method of spraying the germicide on the packaging material. Flat packaging materials that can withstand the relatively high drying temperature after immersion are sterilized by immersion. Formed containers such as cups and bottles, and packaging materials such as films that stretch when dried at high temperatures are sterilized by spraying the germicide.

[0004] If the droplets of the disinfectant sprayed are large, they will drip down the sides of cups or bottles. The smaller the droplets of the disinfectant sprayed, the more evenly they will be applied to the surface of the packaging material, and the greater the disinfecting effect. Therefore, a method has been proposed to make the droplets of the disinfectant finer (Patent Document 1).

[0005] The smaller the droplets of the germicide that adhere to the surface of the packaging material are, and the more densely the surface of the packaging material is covered with the germicide droplets, the higher the germicidal effect. Therefore, instead of spraying germicide droplets, a method has been proposed in which the germicide is gasified, the gasified germicide is sprayed onto the surface of the packaging material, and the germicide is condensed on the surface of the packaging material (Patent Document 2). Here, the germicide is gasified by dropping the germicide onto a heating element that heats the germicide.

[0006] Furthermore, a method has been proposed in which a large amount of disinfectant is efficiently gasified by spraying the disinfectant into a heated tube (Patent Document 3).

[0007] The sterilant vaporizer shown in Figures 5 and 6 of Patent Document 3 sprays a sterilant into a heated cylinder. Another sterilant gasifier has been proposed in which a sterilant is sprayed into a heated cylinder, hot air is blown in from upstream, and a plate heater is provided at the bottom of the cylinder (Patent Document 5). A device has also been proposed in which hydrogen peroxide is injected while a gas medium is supplied into the cylinder, and the hydrogen peroxide is vaporized and discharged by hitting the surface of a heating device (Patent Document 6).

[0008] The above-mentioned sterilant gasifier gasifies the sterilant by contacting the sterilant with the surface of a relatively large heated cylindrical tube or a heated housing. Some of these devices blow hot air at this time. The sterilant gasified by the sterilant gasifier is blown onto the packaging material, but there are also devices in which a conduit is connected to the end of the gasifier, the conduit extends around the container, and a nozzle is attached to the conduit to blow the sterilant gas onto the outer surface of the container (Patent Document 7). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 60-220067 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-11163 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 3-224469 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-218134 [Patent Document 5] JP 2001-276189 A [Patent Document 6] Special Publication No. 2010-534167 [Patent Document 7] International Publication No. 2015 / 137480 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Gasified hydrogen peroxide is often used to sterilize packaging materials in aseptic filling machines. Hydrogen peroxide is gasified by contacting it with the surface of a heated heating element. Hydrogen peroxide sprayed inside a cylindrical tube is gasified by contacting the inner surface of the heated cylindrical tube.

[0011] The sterilization effect is enhanced by completely gasifying the sprayed hydrogen peroxide solution, which contacts bacteria and the like present on the surface of the packaging material, condensing the gasified hydrogen peroxide solution on the surface of the packaging material to form fine droplets, and then heating the condensed hydrogen peroxide solution to re-gasify, thereby enhancing the sterilization effect. In other words, completely gasifying the hydrogen peroxide solution and thereby increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide contained in the gas enhances the sterilization effect. Furthermore, the sterilization effect of the gasified sterilant can be maximized by contacting the packaging material with the gaseous state.

[0012] As described in Patent Document 7, the sterilant gasified by the sterilant gasifier is sprayed onto the packaging material, and a conduit is connected to the end of the gasifier, the conduit extends around the container, and the sterilant gas is sprayed onto the outer surface of the container by a nozzle attached to the conduit. The gasifier is heated, and the sterilant is gasified by contacting the surface of the heated gasifier. However, the sterilant gas flowing from the gasifier to the conduit is cooled in the conduit and liquefied. For example, if the gasifier is set to 300°C, the heat of the gasifier is conducted to the conduit, and the temperature becomes about 100°C. Since the dew point of hydrogen peroxide solution containing 35% by mass of hydrogen peroxide is estimated to be about 127°C, a part of the hydrogen peroxide solution gas condenses and liquefies in the conduit. The hydrogen peroxide solution gas condenses from hydrogen peroxide first, so the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the hydrogen peroxide solution that does not condense and reaches the container is lower than the initial hydrogen peroxide concentration, which reduces the sterilizing effect of the hydrogen peroxide solution gas. For this reason, it has been proposed to heat the conduit by wrapping a ribbon heater around it, but this is dangerous and has not been implemented.

[0013] As described above, hydrogen peroxide gas is sprayed onto the packaging material in order to sterilize the packaging material in the aseptic filling machine, but it is desirable for the gasified hydrogen peroxide to remain in a gaseous state until it is sprayed onto the packaging material.To prevent the hydrogen peroxide gasified by the gasifier from condensing before it reaches the tip of the nozzle, the conduit connecting the gasifier to the nozzle must be heated so that the hydrogen peroxide maintains its gaseous state.

[0014] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a gasified disinfectant spray device that maintains the hydrogen peroxide solution in a gaseous state by heating the outer surface of a conduit connecting the gasification device to a nozzle with heated gas so that the hydrogen peroxide solution gasified in the gasification device does not condense until it reaches the tip of the nozzle that sprays it onto packaging materials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The gasified disinfectant spraying device according to the present invention comprises a gasification device for gasifying a disinfectant, a nozzle for spraying the gasified disinfectant onto a packaging material, and a disinfectant gas exhaust pipe for the gasification device. Reach Beauty Up to the tip of the nozzle The nozzle Against the outside The distance that heated gas can flow Heating the pipes provided at intervals and the section extending from the sterilant gas discharge pipe to the nozzle The above The heated gas is then pumped through the sterilant gas exhaust pipe of the gasifier. and Up to the tip of the nozzle The nozzle The present invention is characterized by including a heated gas supply device that supplies heated gas between the outer surface and the tube body.

[0016] In addition, in the gasified sterilant spraying device of the present invention, it is preferable that the heated gas is any one of heated air, heated steam, and heated superheated steam, or a combination of two or more thereof.

[0017] In the gasified sterilant spraying device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the sterilant and the heated gas are sprayed simultaneously onto the packaging material.

[0018] In addition, in the gasified disinfectant spraying device of the present invention, it is preferable that the gasification device comprises a vaporization tube having a heated surface, and a disinfectant spraying device that sprays the disinfectant onto the inner surface of the vaporization tube.

[0019] In the gasification disinfectant spraying device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the disinfectant spraying device comprises a two-fluid spray.

[0020] In the gasified sterilant spraying device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the sterilant gas outlet of the nozzle is provided facing the outer surface of the packaging material. Effect of the Invention

[0021] The gasified sterilant spraying device according to the present application is a gasified sterilant spraying device having a sterilant gasifier that gasifies a sterilant and a nozzle that sprays the gasified sterilant, and is equipped with a heated gas supplying device that heats the outer surface from the non-heated part of the gasifier to the tip of the nozzle with heated gas, so that the sterilant gasified by the gasifier can be maintained in a gaseous state until it is sprayed onto the packaging material. As a result, a high sterilization effect can be obtained by spraying the gasified sterilant in a gaseous state from the nozzle onto the packaging material. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a sterilant gasification apparatus according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a side view showing a first embodiment of a gasifying sterilant spraying device according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a spray nozzle for spraying onto the side surface of a bottle in a gasification sterilant spraying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a spray nozzle for spraying onto the side and bottom surfaces of a bottle in a gasification sterilant spraying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0024] (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a sterilizer gasification apparatus 1 according to the present invention. A sterilizer is supplied to the gasification apparatus 1, which gasifies the supplied sterilizer. The gasified sterilizer is sprayed onto a container, and the container is sterilized. The sterilizer is gasified, but it is possible that part of the gasified sterilizer has turned into mist. There is also gender.

[0025] The gasification apparatus 1 includes a sterilant spraying device 2, which is a two-fluid spray nozzle that supplies the sterilant in droplet form, and a heating surface 3 that heats and gasifies the sterilant upon contact with the sterilant supplied from the sterilant spraying device 2. The sterilant spraying device 2 introduces the sterilant and compressed air from a sterilant supply path 2a and a compressed air supply path 2b, respectively, and sprays the sterilant onto the heating surface 3. The heating surface 3 is in the form of a pipe equipped with a heater 4 on its outer surface, and the sprayed sterilant is gasified upon contact with the heated pipe-shaped heating surface 3. The sterilant gas is ejected from a sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the outside of the gasification apparatus 1. Instead of the heater 4, the heating surface 3 may be heated by induction heating.

[0026] As for the operating conditions of the sterilant spraying device 2, for example, the compressed air pressure is adjusted in the range of 0.05 MPa to 0.6 MPa. The sterilant may fall by gravity or may be pressurized, and the supply amount can be freely set; for example, the sterilant is supplied to the sterilant supply path 2a in the range of 1 g / min. to 100 g / min. The heating surface 3 is heated to 140°C to 500°C, whereby the sprayed sterilant is gasified.

[0027] The sterilizing agent preferably contains at least hydrogen peroxide. The appropriate content is in the range of 0.5% by mass to 65% by mass. If the content is less than 0.5% by mass, the sterilizing power may be insufficient, and if it exceeds 65% by mass, handling becomes difficult from a safety standpoint. More preferably, the content is 0.5% by mass to 40% by mass, and if it is 40% by mass or less, handling is easier, and since the concentration is low, the amount of sterilizing agent remaining in the container 7 after sterilization can be reduced.

[0028] When hydrogen peroxide solution containing 35% by mass of hydrogen peroxide is used as the sterilant, the dew point of the gasified hydrogen peroxide solution is around 127°C, and it is preferable to heat the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to 130°C or higher.

[0029] When hydrogen peroxide is used as the sterilant, the amount of hydrogen peroxide gas sprayed is as follows. The amount of hydrogen peroxide adhering to the outer surface of container 7 by the hydrogen peroxide gas sprayed from nozzle 6 onto the outer surface of container 7 is preferably 5 μL / container to 150 μL / container, and more preferably 10 μL / container to 100 μL / container, assuming the amount of hydrogen peroxide containing 35% by mass of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide concentration of the hydrogen peroxide gas sprayed onto container 7 is preferably 2 mg / L to 20 mg / L, and more preferably 5 mg / L to 10 mg / L.

[0030] In addition, the disinfectant contains water, but may also contain one or more of alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, normal propyl alcohol, and butyl alcohol; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and acetylacetone; and glycol ethers.

[0031] Furthermore, the disinfectant may contain additives such as organic acids such as peracetic acid and acetic acid, chlorine compounds such as sodium hypochlorite, compounds having a disinfecting effect such as ozone, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and phosphate compounds.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 2, sterilant gas is sprayed from nozzle 6 onto the outer surface of container 7, sterilizing the outer surface of container 7. The amount of sterilant gas sprayed is arbitrary, but is determined by the amount of sterilant supplied to gasifier 1 and the spraying time. A plurality of gasifiers 1 may be provided. The amount of spraying also varies depending on the size of container 7. In the figure, the flow of sterilant gas is indicated by dashed arrows.

[0033] A sterilant gas discharge pipe 5 is connected to the nozzle 6, and the sterilant gas gasified in the gasification apparatus 1 is introduced into the nozzle 6. The sterilant gas introduced into the nozzle 6 is sprayed onto the outer surface of the container 7 from sterilant gas outlets 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e provided on the nozzle 6.

[0034] Sterilant gas outlets 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e are used to spray sterilant gas toward the outer surface of container 7, and are disposed near the mouth 8, body, and bottom of container 7. Specifically, a nozzle 6 is disposed so as to extend so as to surround the contour of container 7 on a plane including the vertical axis of container 7, and sterilant gas outlets 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e are provided on this nozzle 6, and sterilant gas introduced into nozzle 6 is sprayed from sterilant gas outlets 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e toward the outer surface of container 7. Here, the vertical axis of the container refers to the axis extending from the mouth 8 of container 7 to the bottom through the center of container 7.

[0035] The container 7 is transported by being gripped by a support ring 9 with a gripper 10. A shielding wall 11 is provided on the outer surface of the nozzle 6 so as not to impede the movement of the gripper 10 during transportation. The shielding wall 11 keeps the nozzle 6 warm and prevents the sterilant gas being sprayed from dissipating, thereby ensuring the amount of sterilant gas sprayed onto the outer surface of the container 7.

[0036] Of the multiple sterilant gas outlets 6a and 6b arranged near the mouth 8 of container 7, one sterilant gas outlet 6a is arranged such that the axis of the sterilant gas outlet extends parallel to the generatrix of the cylindrical wall along the outer surface of the cylindrical wall of mouth 8, and the other sterilant gas outlet 6b is arranged such that it intersects at a right angle with the cylindrical wall of mouth 8. The axis of sterilant gas outlet 6a is arranged such that it extends parallel to the generatrix of the cylindrical wall along the outer surface of the cylindrical wall of mouth 8, and the sterilant gas sprayed from sterilant gas outlet 6a easily reaches the support ring 9 provided near the base of mouth 8 and the shoulder between mouth 8 and the body, so that the outer surfaces of the support ring 9 etc. are also properly sterilized. Sterilant gas outlet 6b is positioned so that its axis intersects the cylindrical wall of mouth portion 8 at a right angle, and the sterilant gas sprayed from sterilant gas outlet 6b easily penetrates into the thread groove of the male screw in mouth portion 8, so that the outer surface of mouth portion 8 is properly sterilized.

[0037] A pair of sterilant gas outlets 6c, 6e are arranged near the body of container 7 so as to sandwich the body from both sides. Desirably, these sterilant gas outlets 6c, 6e are arranged so that the axis of each sterilant gas outlet momentarily intersects at a right angle with the vertical axis of the container 7 being transported. A plurality of sterilant gas outlets 6c, 6e that spray sterilant into the body of container 7 may be arranged in the vertical direction of the body.

[0038] One sterilant gas outlet 6d is disposed near the bottom of the container 7. Desirably, this sterilant gas outlet 6d is disposed so that the axis of the sterilant gas outlet momentarily intersects at a right angle with the center of the bottom of the container 7 being transported. A plurality of sterilant gas outlets 6d may be provided so as to face the bottom of the container 7 being transported.

[0039] Nozzle 6 extends in an approximately C-shape from just above the mouth 8 of container 7, around container 7 in the vertical direction, to slightly below support ring 9, and its tip is closed. As shown in Fig. 2, the part where the C-shape of nozzle 6 ends corresponds approximately to the location of support ring 9, and gripper 10 holding container 7 can pass through this interrupted part at support ring 9 without interfering with nozzle 6.

[0040] If the portion of sterilant gasification apparatus 1 having heating surface 3 is heated, but the portion from sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to nozzle 6 is not heated, the sterilant gas flowing from sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to nozzle 6 will be cooled and will condense before being blown out from the sterilant gas outlet, and will not be blown out.

[0041] Therefore, a tube 12 is provided at a fixed distance from the outer surface of the gasified sterilant spray device from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the nozzle 6, and heated gas is supplied between the outer surface of the gasifier 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the nozzle 6 and the tube 12 to heat the portion from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the nozzle 6 that is not heated by the heater 4. In the figure, the flow of heated gas is indicated by solid arrows. By heating the portion from the unheated portion of the gasifier 1 to the tip of the nozzle 6, the sterilant gasified in the gasifier 1 is prevented from condensing before being blown out from the sterilant gas outlets 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e.

[0042] It is preferable to provide the relatively long sterilant gas outlets 6a and 6b with a pipe 12 and to heat the outer surface of the sterilant gas outlets 6a and 6b by flowing a heated gas over the outer surface of the sterilant gas outlets 6a and 6b. The relatively short sterilant gas outlets 6c, 6d, and 6e do not need to be provided with the pipe 12.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 2, the gasification sterilant spraying apparatus includes a heated gas supplying device 13 that supplies heated gas between the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the nozzle 6 and the tube body. The heated gas supplied from the heated gas supplying device 13 is supplied between the tube body 12, which is provided at a constant distance from the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the nozzle 6, and the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the nozzle 6. The supplied heated gas flows from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the nozzle 6, and heats the area from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the nozzle 6. The heated gas that has flowed to the tip of the nozzle 6 is discharged from an exhaust port 14 provided in the tube body 12. The discharged heated gas may be returned to the heated gas supplying device 13 and reused.

[0044] 2, the heated gas supplied from the heated gas supply device 13 is supplied to the outer surface of the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 from near the connection of the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 with the gasification device 1, and flows toward the tip of the nozzle 6. It is preferable to flow the heated gas in the same direction as the flow of the sterilant gas. If the heated gas were to flow from the tip of the nozzle 6 into the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5, the cooled heated gas would heat the outer surface of the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5, and depending on the conditions, the gasified sterilant may condense in the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5.

[0045] When the sterilant gasified in gasification device 1 flows from sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of nozzle 6, the area from sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of nozzle 6 can be heated with heated gas, thereby uniformly heating the area from sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of nozzle 6, and the sterilant can be sprayed while maintaining the gasified state up to the tip of nozzle 6.

[0046] The heated gas supplied by heated gas supply device 13 is any one of heated air, heated steam, and heated superheated steam, or a combination of two or more thereof. The heated gas is caused to flow between sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 near the connection between sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 and gasifier 1 and tubular body 12. The heated gas must flow uniformly within tubular body 12.

[0047] The heated air is obtained by heating compressed air by a compressor or air sent out by a blower with a heating device such as a heater or a burner. The temperature of the obtained heated air is suitably 140°C to 500°C. If the temperature is less than 140°C, the ability to maintain the gasified state of the sterilant gas is insufficient, and if the temperature exceeds 500°C, the heat resistance of the device must be increased. It is preferable that the air before being heated is sterilized air that has been passed through a sterilization filter. This is because, although bacteria and the like in the heated air are sterilized by heating, there is a risk that unsterilized bacteria may remain. A device for supplying air, a sterilization filter, and a heating device for heating the air are provided as the heated gas supply device 13. The heated air may be a gas other than air, such as nitrogen, argon, or carbon dioxide.

[0048] The heated steam is generated by a heated steam supplying device that heats water with electricity or fuel. The water used may be purified through a reverse osmosis membrane. A boiler compound or a condensate treatment agent is used for the boiler body that turns water into steam, but food additive grade is used. The boiler body and the conveying piping are preferably made of stainless steel. The heated steam may be passed through a filter, activated carbon, or an ultrafiltration membrane to remove foreign matter, ions, medicines, etc. from the heated steam. Furthermore, the heated steam supplying device is preferably a reboiler that uses the heated steam as a heat source and exchanges heat with water that has passed through a reverse osmosis membrane to generate heated steam. The temperature of the heated steam is preferably 140°C to 170°C. If the temperature is less than 140°C, the ability to maintain the gas state of the sterilant is insufficient, and if the temperature exceeds 170°C, it does not become saturated steam. Compared to heated air, the amount of heat is greater because water is included at the same temperature. A device for supplying water and a heated steam supplying device are provided as a heated gas supplying device 13.

[0049] Heated superheated steam is water that has been heated to steam and then further heated. Superheated steam is steam at a pressure of 0.1 MPa to 0.3 MPa, which is higher than the atmospheric pressure at 200°C to 500°C, generated from water supplied to a superheated steam generator. The superheated steam generator heats the water pipe with a heater or induction coil to generate superheated steam. It is difficult to adjust the temperature of superheated steam to less than 200°C, and at temperatures exceeding 500°C, the heat resistance of the device must be increased. Compared to heated steam, it contains water and therefore has a larger calorific value. Also, compared to heated steam, when the same amount of water is contained, it has a larger calorific value because its temperature is higher. A device for supplying water and a superheated steam generator are provided as a heated gas supply device 13.

[0050] The sterilant gas discharge pipe 5 and nozzle 6 are spaced apart from the tube 12 by a certain distance, which is a distance that allows the heated gas to flow, and is appropriately 5 mm to 50 mm. If the distance is less than 5 mm, the amount of heat applied to the sterilant gas discharge pipe 5 and nozzle 6 by the heated gas is insufficient. If the distance exceeds 50 mm, the flow rate of the heated gas becomes too large, resulting in a waste of energy. Furthermore, the nozzle 6 becomes too thick, and the gasified sterilant spraying device becomes too large.

[0051] In order to maintain the temperature of the heated gas up to the tip of the nozzle 6, a heat insulating material may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the tube body 12. The heat insulating material is made of an inorganic material or an organic material, and may be a composite of an inorganic material and an organic material. The inorganic material is an inorganic fiber such as glass fiber, alumina fiber, alumina silica fiber, magnesium silicate fiber, calcium silicate fiber, potassium titanate fiber, or a solid material made of these inorganic materials. The organic material is a solid material or fiber of a heat-resistant plastic such as polyarylate, polysulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, aromatic polyether ketone resin, polyimide, fluororesin, liquid crystal polymer, cellulose, etc. Fibers with high heat insulating properties are preferable.

[0052] Sterilant gas discharge pipe 5, nozzle 6 and tube body 12 are made of metal such as stainless steel, brass, copper or aluminum.

[0053] 2, the heated gas supplied to tubular body 12 is discharged from outlet 14 provided at the tip of nozzle 6. However, a ring-shaped heated gas outlet may be provided in tubular body 12 around sterilant gas outlets 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e of nozzle 6, and heated gas may be blown out from around the sterilant gas being blown out at the same time and sprayed onto the packaging material.

[0054] The gasified sterilant and heated gas are sprayed simultaneously onto the packaging material, with the heated gas surrounding the periphery of the gasified sterilant. By spraying the gasified sterilant and heated gas simultaneously onto the packaging material, liquefaction due to a drop in temperature of the gasified sterilant after being blown out from the sterilant gas outlets 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, and 6e of the nozzle 6 is prevented, and the sterilant gas is liquefied when it reaches the surface of the packaging material, so that the sterilant droplets on the surface of the packaging material are small, improving the sterilization effect. By blowing out the heated gas simultaneously with the sterilant gas, a drop in temperature of the blown out sterilant gas is prevented.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 2, a sterilant is sprayed onto the outer surface of the container 7 by a nozzle 6. A sterilant gasified by a sterilant gasifier provided separately from the sterilant gasifier 1 used in the gasified sterilant spraying device of the present invention is sprayed onto the inner surface of the container 7. The sterilant gas sprayed onto the inner surface of the container 7 is sprayed directly from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe of the sterilant gasifier, so that the sterilant gasified by the sterilant gasifier is sprayed onto the inner surface of the container 7 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe without condensing. The sterilant gas exhaust pipe does not have to be heated by a heating gas as in the gasified sterilant spraying device of the present invention. However, when the sterilant gas exhaust pipe is long, it is preferable that the sterilant gas exhaust pipe is heated by a heating gas as in the gasified sterilant spraying device of the present invention.

[0056] (Embodiment 2) A second embodiment of the gasified sterilant spraying device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. The first embodiment has one nozzle 6, and sterilant gas is sprayed onto the outer surface of a container 7 through the single nozzle 6. In the second embodiment, sterilant gas is sprayed onto the outer surface of a container 7 through two nozzles, a side spray nozzle 15 shown in Figure 3 and a side / bottom spray nozzle 16 shown in Figure 4.

[0057] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a tube 12 is provided at a fixed distance from the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas discharge pipe 5 to the side spray nozzle 15 or the side and bottom spray nozzle 16, and heated gas is supplied between the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas discharge pipe 5 to the tip of the side spray nozzle 15 or the side and bottom spray nozzle 16 and the tube 12.

[0058] 3 is connected to sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 of sterilant gasification apparatus 1, and sterilant gas gasified in gasification apparatus 1 is introduced into side spray nozzle 15. The sterilant gas introduced into side spray nozzle 15 is sprayed onto the outer surface of container 7 from sterilant gas outlets 6b, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, and 6k provided on side spray nozzle 15. Sterilant gasification apparatus 1 is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0059] Sterilant gas outlets 6b, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, and 6k are used to spray sterilant gas toward the outer surface of container 7, and to spray sterilant onto the outer surface of container 7, and are disposed near each of mouth 8 and body of container 7. Specifically, side spray nozzle 15 is disposed extending parallel to the outer surface of container 7 on a plane including the longitudinal axis of container 7, and sterilant gas outlets 6b, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, and 6k are provided in this side spray nozzle 15 facing the side of container 7, and sterilant gas introduced into side spray nozzle 15 is sprayed toward the outer surface of container 7 from sterilant gas outlets 6b, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, and 6k.

[0060] The container 7 is transported by being gripped by the support ring 9 with the gripper 10. A shielding wall 11 is provided on the outer surface of the side spray nozzle 15 so as not to impede the movement of the gripper 10 during transportation. The shielding wall 11 keeps the side spray nozzle 15 warm and prevents the gas of the sterilant being sprayed from entering the container. By preventing the dispersion of the sterilizing gas, the amount of sterilizing gas sprayed onto the outer surface of the container 7 can be ensured.

[0061] Sterilant gas outlet 6b, which is disposed near mouth 8 of container 7, is oriented so that the sterilant gas outlet intersects at a right angle with the cylindrical wall of mouth 8. The sterilant gas sprayed from sterilant gas outlet 6b, which is oriented so that the axis of the sterilant gas outlet intersects at a right angle with the cylindrical wall of mouth 8, easily enters the male screw groove in mouth 8, so that the outer surface of mouth 8 is properly sterilized. Sterilant gas outlet 6b is extended to the vicinity of mouth 8 in order to allow the sterilant gas to enter the male screw groove in mouth 8.

[0062] Sterilant gas outlets 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, and 6k are arranged in the body of the container 7. Desirably, these sterilant gas outlets 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, and 6k are arranged so that the axis of each sterilant gas outlet momentarily intersects at a right angle with the vertical axis of the container 7 being transported. Sterilant gas outlets 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, and 6k that spray sterilant onto the side of the body of the container 7 may be arranged in a number greater than or less than this in the vertical direction of the body. Sterilant gas outlet 6f may extend from the mouth 8 of the container 7 to the vicinity of the shoulder to spray sterilant onto the shoulder of the container 7.

[0063] It is preferable to provide a tube 12 on the outer surface of the sterilant gas outlets 6b, 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, and 6k. In particular, it is preferable to provide a tube 12 on the relatively long sterilant gas outlet 6b and to flow a heated gas over the outer surface of the sterilant gas outlet 6b to heat it. It is not necessary to provide a tube 12 on the outer surface of the relatively short sterilant gas outlets 6f, 6g, 6h, 6i, 6j, and 6k.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 3, the gasification sterilant spraying apparatus includes a heated gas supplying device 13 that supplies heated gas between the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side spray nozzle 15 and the tube body 12. The heated gas supplied from the heated gas supplying device 13 is supplied between the tube body 12, which is provided at a constant distance from the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side spray nozzle 15, and the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side spray nozzle 15. The supplied heated gas flows from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side spray nozzle 15, and heats the area from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side spray nozzle 15. The heated gas that has flowed to the tip of the side spray nozzle 15 is discharged from an exhaust port 14 provided in the tube body 12. The discharged heated gas may be returned to the heated gas supplying device 13 and reused.

[0065] 3, the heated gas supplied from the heated gas supply device 13 is supplied to the outer surface of the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 from near the connection of the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 with the gasifier 1, and flows toward the tip of the side spray nozzle 15. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0066] Moreover, whether or not a pipe 12 is provided on the outer surface of the sterilant gas outlet and whether or not the sterilant gas and the heated gas are simultaneously blown onto the packaging material are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0067] 4 is connected to sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 of sterilant gasification apparatus 1, and sterilant gas gasified in gasification apparatus 1 is introduced into side / bottom spray nozzle 16. The sterilant gas introduced into side / bottom spray nozzle 16 is sprayed onto the outer surface of container 7 from sterilant gas outlets 6l, 6m, 6n, 6o, 6p, 6q, 6r, and 6s provided on side / bottom spray nozzle 16. Sterilant gasification apparatus 1 is the same as in embodiment 1.

[0068] Sterilant gas outlets 6l, 6m, 6n, 6o, 6p, 6q, 6r, and 6s spray sterilant gas toward the outer surface of container 7, and are arranged near the mouth 8, body, and bottom of container 7. Specifically, side / bottom spray nozzle 16 is arranged to extend parallel to the outer surface of container 7 on a plane including the bottom surface and vertical axis of container 7, and sterilant gas outlets 6l, 6m, 6n, 6o, 6p, 6q, 6r, and 6s are provided in side / bottom spray nozzle 16 facing the side and bottom surfaces, and sterilant gas introduced into side / bottom spray nozzle 16 is sprayed from sterilant gas outlets 6l, 6m, 6n, 6o, 6p, 6q, 6r, and 6s toward the side surfaces and bottom surface of the body of container 7.

[0069] The container 7 is transported by being gripped by the support ring 9 with the gripper 10. A shielding wall 11 is provided on the outer surface of the side / bottom spray nozzle 16 so as not to hinder the movement of the nozzle 10. The shielding wall 11 keeps the side / bottom spray nozzle 16 warm and prevents the sprayed sterilant gas from dissipating, thereby ensuring the amount of sterilant gas sprayed onto the side and bottom of the container 7.

[0070] Sterilant gas outlets 6l, 6m, 6n, 6o, and 6p are arranged to spray sterilant gas toward the body of the container 7. Desirably, these sterilant gas outlets 6l, 6m, 6n, 6o, and 6p are arranged so that the axis of each sterilant gas outlet momentarily intersects at a right angle with the vertical axis of the container 7 being transported. Sterilant gas outlets 6l, 6m, 6n, 6o, and 6p that spray sterilant onto the side of the body of the container 7 may be arranged in a plurality of units in the vertical direction of the body, either more than or less than this. Sterilant gas outlet 6l may extend from the mouth 8 of the container 7 to the vicinity of the shoulder to spray sterilant onto the shoulder of the container 7.

[0071] Sterilant gas outlets 6q, 6r, and 6s are disposed near the bottom of container 7. Desirably, these sterilant gas outlets 6q, 6r, and 6s are disposed so that their axes face the bottom surface of container 7 being transported. Sterilant gas outlets 6q, 6r, and 6s facing the bottom may be provided in greater or lesser numbers so as to face the bottom surface of container 7 being transported.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 4, the gasification sterilant spraying apparatus includes a heated gas supplying device 13 that supplies heated gas between the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side / bottom spraying nozzle 16 and the tube body. The heated gas supplied from the heated gas supplying device 13 is supplied between the tube body 12, which is provided at a constant distance from the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side / bottom spraying nozzle 16, and the outer surface of the gasification apparatus 1 from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side / bottom spraying nozzle 16. The supplied heated gas flows from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side / bottom spraying nozzle 16, and heats the area from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 to the tip of the side / bottom spraying nozzle 16. The heated gas that has flowed to the tip of the side / bottom spraying nozzle 16 is discharged from an exhaust port 14 provided in the tube body 12. The discharged heated gas may be returned to the heated gas supplying device 13 and reused.

[0073] 4, the heated gas supplied from the heated gas supply device 13 is supplied to the outer surface of the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 from near the connection of the sterilant gas exhaust pipe 5 with the gasification apparatus 1, and flows toward the tip of the side / bottom spray nozzle 16. This is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0074] Moreover, whether or not a pipe 12 is provided on the outer surface of the sterilant gas outlet and whether or not the sterilant gas and heated gas are simultaneously blown onto the packaging material are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0075] The present invention is configured as described above, but is not limited to the above embodiment, and although there are two nozzles for spraying sterilant gas onto the outer surface of the container 7 in the second embodiment, three or more nozzles may be provided. Various modifications are possible within the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1. Gasification equipment 5…Disinfectant gas exhaust pipe 6…Nozzle 12...Body 13…Heated gas supply device 15...Side spray nozzle 16…Side and bottom spray nozzle

Claims

1. A gasifier that gasifies the disinfectant; A nozzle for spraying the gasified sterilant onto a packaging material; a pipe provided between the sterilant gas exhaust pipe of the gasification apparatus and the tip of the nozzle, the pipe being spaced apart from the outer surface of the nozzle by a distance that allows a heated gas to flow therethrough; A gasification sterilant spray device comprising a heated gas supply device that supplies the heated gas for heating the portion from the sterilant gas exhaust pipe to the nozzle, between the sterilant gas exhaust pipe of the gasification device and the outer surface of the nozzle up to the tip of the nozzle and the tube body.

2. 2. The gasification disinfectant spraying device according to claim 1, 1. A gasification sterilant spraying device, characterized in that the heating gas is any one of heated air, heated steam, and heated superheated steam, or a combination of two or more thereof.

3. The gasification disinfectant spraying device according to claim 1 or 2, A gasified disinfectant spraying device configured to spray the disinfectant and the heated gas simultaneously onto the packaging material.

4. The gasification sterilant spraying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The gasification apparatus comprises a vaporization tube having a heated surface, and a disinfectant spraying device for spraying the disinfectant onto the inner surface of the vaporization tube.

5. The gasification disinfectant spraying device according to claim 4, 13. A gasification disinfectant spraying device, comprising: a dual-fluid sprayer;

6. The gasification disinfectant spraying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A gasified sterilant spraying device, characterized in that a sterilant gas outlet of the nozzle is provided facing an outer surface of the packaging material.

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