Sterilizing agent spray nozzle and sterilizing agent spray method

Abstract

To effectively attach a bactericide of an amount necessary for disinfection to an inner surface of a bottle by spraying the bactericide from a nozzle fixed to a bottle conveyed at high speed, in an aseptic filling machine.SOLUTION: A fixed bactericide spraying nozzle gasifies a bactericide, and sprays the gasified bactericide to the inside of a bottle from a mouth part of the bottle being conveyed. A horizontal surface is provided which surrounds a spray hole of the bactericide spraying nozzle and which extends from a tip end surface of the spray hole, and the horizontal surface shields the mouth part of the bottle from the start to the end of spraying the bactericide to the mouth part of the bottle from the spray hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sterilant spray nozzle used for sterilizing packaging materials in an aseptic filling machine, which sprays a sterilant gas onto an object to be sterilized, and a sterilant spraying method. [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. Packaging materials that are flat and can withstand relatively high drying temperatures are sterilized by immersing them in the germicide. Packaging materials with poor heat resistance, such as molded products such as cups and bottles, and 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 and the gasified germicide is sprayed onto the surface of the packaging material to condense the germicide on the surface of the packaging material (Patent Document 2). Here, the germicide is gasified by dropping the germicide onto a heated heating element.

[0006] Furthermore, a method has been proposed in which a disinfectant is sprayed into a heated pipe to efficiently gasify the disinfectant in large quantities (Patent Document 3). Also, a method has been proposed in which a heat storage body is provided inside a heated pipe (Patent Document 4).

[0007] The gasified sterilant is sprayed by a nozzle onto the packaging material to be sterilized. There is an aseptic filling machine in which the nozzle moves in synchronization with the object to be sterilized, such as a bottle being conveyed, and the nozzle is inserted into the bottle to spray the sterilant into the bottle (Patent Document 5). There is an aseptic filling machine in which the nozzle moves in synchronization with the bottle to spray the sterilant into the bottle, but the nozzle is not inserted into the bottle (Patent Document 6). There is also an aseptic filling machine in which the nozzle is fixed, and the sterilant is sprayed into the inside of a bottle conveyed directly below the fixed nozzle (Patent Document 7). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 60-220067 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication 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 2022-96392 A [Patent Document 6] Patent No. 6819709 [Patent Document 7] JP 2020-109023 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Gasified hydrogen peroxide is often used to sterilize packaging materials in aseptic filling machines. Hydrogen peroxide is gasified by contacting it with a heating element. The hydrogen peroxide gasifier described in Patent Document 3 uses something similar to a two-fluid spray in the sterilant supply section, and gasifies the sterilant sprayed from the spray by contacting it with the surface of a heated vaporizer tube. The vaporizer tube is heated by a heater attached to its outer surface. The vaporizer tube is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, and is designed to quickly transmit heat from the heater.

[0010] In the case of aseptic filling machines that fill beverages into bottles, the amount of sterilant used increases as the machine speeds up, and increasing the amount of sterilant sprayed increases the heat consumption inside the vaporizer tube, which causes a shortage of heat provided by the heater and a drop in the temperature of the vaporizer tube surface. Therefore, the number of vaporizer tubes is increased. Increasing the number of vaporizer tubes leads to excessive initial investment.

[0011] The tip of the vaporizing tube is shaped like a nozzle to spray the gasified sterilant into the inside of the bottle. The nozzle may move in synchronization with the bottle being transported or may be fixed. By inserting the nozzle into the bottle, the sterilant is reliably sprayed into the inside of the bottle. However, moving the nozzle in synchronization with the bottle and inserting it into the bottle makes the device excessively large and complicated as the speed of the aseptic filling machine increases, making the aseptic filling machine expensive. Even if the nozzle is not inserted, moving the nozzle in synchronization with the bottle being transported makes the device expensive.

[0012] As the speed of aseptic filling machines increases, it has become common to spray a sterilant onto a bottle conveyed directly under a fixed nozzle. By using a fixed nozzle to spray the sterilant, the equipment cost of the aseptic filling machine can be reduced. However, it is not easy to reliably spray the sterilant into the inside of a bottle conveyed at high speed using a fixed nozzle. Therefore, it is necessary to provide multiple nozzles. Also, as in Patent Document 7, it has been proposed to provide a nozzle on the ceiling of a tunnel-shaped cover and spray the sterilant from the nozzle toward the mouth of a bottle conveyed inside the tunnel-shaped cover.

[0013] In order to increase the amount of sterilant attached to the inside of the bottle, it is necessary to increase the amount of sterilant sprayed in line with the increase in speed. If the spray air volume is increased to increase the amount sprayed, the spray pressure must be increased. Although it is possible to increase the amount of sterilant sprayed inside the bottle by increasing the pressure, the sterilant sprayed inside the bottle overflows from the mouth of the bottle due to the high pressure, resulting in less sterilant attached to the inside of the bottle than expected.

[0014] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a disinfectant spraying nozzle and a disinfectant spraying method that spray a disinfectant from a nozzle fixed to a bottle transported at high speed, effectively adhering the amount of disinfectant required for sterilization to the inner surface of the bottle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The sterilant spray nozzle according to the present disclosure is a fixed sterilant spray nozzle that gasifies a sterilant and sprays the gasified sterilant from the mouth of a bottle to the inside of the bottle, and has a horizontal surface that surrounds the spray hole of the sterilant spray nozzle and extends from the tip surface of the spray hole, The top surface of the mouth of the bottle conveyed directly under the sterilizing agent spray nozzle is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the distance between the top surface of the mouth of the bottle and the horizontal plane is 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less, The horizontal surface shields the mouth of the bottle from the start of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole to the end of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole to the mouth of the bottle, The length of the horizontal plane including the spray hole in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the bottle is transported is set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth of the bottle, and the lengths of the horizontal planes on both sides of the spray hole in the direction in which the bottle is transported are each set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth, and the horizontal planes that shield the mouth prevent the sterilant from being discharged from the bottle to the outside, creating a positive pressure inside the bottle,The disinfectant to be sprayed inside the bottle is inverted after reaching the bottom of the bottle, and is made to flow to the mouth of the bottle, and the disinfectant that has flowed to the mouth is made to collide with the horizontal surface, directed toward the inside of the bottle, retained inside the bottle, and sprayed so as to adhere to the inner surface of the bottle.

[0018] The sterilant spraying method according to the present disclosure is a fixed sterilant spray nozzle that gasifies a sterilant and sprays the gasified sterilant from the mouth of a bottle to the inside of the bottle, the method comprising: providing a horizontal surface that surrounds a spray hole of the sterilant spray nozzle and extends from a tip surface of the spray hole; The top surface of the mouth of the bottle conveyed directly below the sterilizing agent spray nozzle is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the distance between the top surface of the mouth of the bottle and the horizontal plane is 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less; The mouth of the bottle is covered by the horizontal surface from the start of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole to the end of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole to the mouth of the bottle, The length of the horizontal plane including the spray hole in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the bottle is transported is set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth of the bottle, and the lengths of the horizontal planes on both sides of the spray hole in the direction in which the bottle is transported are each set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth, and the horizontal planes that shield the mouth prevent the sterilant from being discharged from the bottle to the outside, creating a positive pressure inside the bottle, The disinfectant to be sprayed inside the bottle is inverted after reaching the bottom of the bottle, and is made to flow to the mouth of the bottle, and the disinfectant that has flowed to the mouth is made to collide with the horizontal surface, directed toward the inside of the bottle, retained inside the bottle, and sprayed so as to adhere to the inner surface of the bottle. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the sterilant spray nozzle and sterilant spray method of the present invention, in an aseptic filling machine that fills bottles with beverages, dairy products, etc., the sterilant gas used to sterilize the inner surface of the bottle can be efficiently attached to the inner surface of the bottle, resulting in a reduction in the amount of sterilant used. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a disinfectant spray nozzle according to the prior art. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a first embodiment of a disinfectant spray nozzle according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a second embodiment of a disinfectant spraying nozzle according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4]FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which a sterilant is sprayed onto a bottle by a sterilant spray nozzle according to a conventional technology. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a state in which a disinfectant is being sprayed onto a bottle by a disinfectant spraying nozzle according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a state in which a disinfectant is being sprayed onto a bottle by a disinfectant spraying nozzle according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the state in which a disinfectant is sprayed onto a bottle by a disinfectant spray nozzle according to the present disclosure. 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) 2 is a side view showing a first embodiment of a sterilant spray nozzle according to the present disclosure. Sterilant spray nozzle 11 is provided at the tip of sterilant gasification apparatus 1. Sterilant gasification apparatus 1 is provided with sterilant spraying device 2 having a sterilant supply port 3 and a compressed air supply port 4, extension pipe 5, spray nozzle 6 provided at the tip of extension pipe 5, vaporization section 7, vaporization tube 8 in vaporization section 7 that gasifies the sterilant, and sterilant spray nozzle 11 provided at the tip of vaporization tube 8.

[0025] Sterilant sprayer 2 is a two-fluid sprayer. Sterilant is supplied from a sterilant tank (not shown) to a sterilant supply port 3, compressed air is supplied to a compressed air supply port 4, and the sterilant is sprayed from a spray nozzle 6 through an extension pipe 5 into a vaporizing tube 8. Extension pipe 5 is provided so that heat from vaporizing section 7 is conducted to sprayer 2 through the upper surface of vaporizing tube 8, preventing the temperature of the main body of sprayer 2 from rising.

[0026] Vaporization section 7 is provided on its inner surface with vaporization tube 8 and sterilant spray nozzle 11 extending from vaporization tube 8, and is provided on its outside with a tube body 10 of similar shape to vaporization tube 8 that covers the outer surface of vaporization tube 8 while maintaining a fixed distance from vaporization tube 8, and a heating device 9 is provided between vaporization tube 8 and tube body 10. Tube body 10 protects vaporization tube 8 and heating device 9. Furthermore, tube body 10 may be a multi-layer structure having a heat insulating layer and a protective layer to provide a heat insulating function.

[0027] Heating device 9 is provided, for example, by wrapping a plurality of band heaters around the outer surface of vaporizing tube 8. If a plurality of band heaters is not used, it is not possible to cover the entire outer surface of vaporizing tube 8 with heaters. Alternatively, the outer surface of vaporizing tube 8 may be insulated, a conductor may be wrapped around it, and electricity may be passed through the conductor to inductively heat vaporizing tube 8.

[0028] A sterilant is supplied to sterilant supply port 3 of sterilant spraying device 2, and the supplied sterilant is sprayed from spray nozzle 6 by compressed air supplied from compressed air supply port 4 into the inside of vaporization tube 8 heated by heating device 9. The sterilant sprayed into the inside of heated vaporization tube 8 is heated by contacting the inner surface of heated vaporization tube 8 and is instantly gasified.

[0029] Sterilant spraying device 2 is a two-fluid spray, and the sterilant is sprayed as a mist from spray nozzle 6 onto the inner surface of vaporizing tube 8. The sprayed sterilant is gasified on contact with the heated inner surface of vaporizing tube 8. The generated sterilant gas is sprayed from sterilant spraying nozzle 11 by the pressure of compressed air.

[0030] The sterilizing agent contains at least hydrogen peroxide. The content is suitably in the range of 0.5% by mass to 65% by mass. If it 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 suitably, it is 0.5% by mass to 40% by mass, and if it is 40% by mass or less, it is easier to handle, and since it is a low concentration, the amount of hydrogen peroxide remaining in the packaging material after sterilization can be reduced.

[0031] The disinfectant also contains a stabilizer to prevent the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. As the stabilizer for the disinfectant, sodium pyrophosphate or orthophosphoric acid, which are approved by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare as designated food additives for sterilizing food packaging materials, are preferably used. However, phosphorus-containing inorganic compounds such as sodium hydrogen pyrophosphate, and phosphonic acid chelating agents such as aminotrimethylphosphonic acid and alkylidene diphosphonic acid salts may also be used. The stabilizer content is usually 40 ppm or less.

[0032] 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.

[0033] Furthermore, the disinfectant may contain additives such as peracetic acid, acetic acid, chlorine compounds, compounds having a disinfecting effect such as ozone, cationic surfactants, and nonionic surfactants.

[0034] The vaporizing tube 8 is preferably cylindrical because the germicide sprayed from the spray nozzle 6 is sprayed in a circular shape. However, a polygonal cylindrical shape is also acceptable. The diameter of the cylinder must be large enough to prevent the internal pressure of the vaporizing tube 8 from increasing due to the compressed air used to spray the germicide. However, the diameter must be such that the mist of the sprayed germicide can come into contact with the inner surface of the vaporizing tube 8. Furthermore, the length of the cylinder is designed to satisfy this condition.

[0035] The vaporizing tube 8 has a cylindrical shape at the top where the germicide is sprayed, but in order to match the diameter of the germicide spraying nozzle 11, the diameter of the tube is continuously reduced from the initial diameter of the cylinder to the diameter of the germicide spraying nozzle 11. This part is funnel-shaped.

[0036] As operating conditions for the disinfectant spraying device 2, for example, the compressed air pressure is adjusted in the range of 0.05 MPa to 0.6 MPa. The disinfectant may be dropped by gravity or pressurized with a pump, and the supply amount of the disinfectant can be freely set, for example, in the range of 1 g / min. to 100 g / min.

[0037] The sterilant gasified by contact with the inner surface of vaporizing tube 8 is sprayed by the pressure of the compressed air from sterilant spray nozzle 11. Sterilant spray nozzle 11 is fixed and faces bottle 12 which is transported directly below sterilant spray nozzle 11, so that the sterilant gas sprayed from sterilant spray nozzle 11 is sprayed from mouth 13 of bottle 12 into the inside of bottle 12.

[0038] The inner diameter of the spray hole 15 of the sterilant spray nozzle 11, which serves as the outlet for the sterilant gas, can be set arbitrarily and can be 2 mmφ to 20 mmφ. By making the inner diameter smaller, the spray pressure of the generated sterilant gas can be increased. By adjusting the spray pressure, the spray pressure of the sterilant gas, the mist generated by condensation, or a mixture thereof, toward the inside of the bottle 12 can be adjusted.

[0039] Metals such as iron, stainless steel, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, zinc, tungsten, etc. are used for the vaporizing tube 8 and the sterilant spraying nozzle 11. The inner surfaces of the vaporizing tube 8 and the sterilant spraying nozzle 11 may be plated with a metal such as chromium or nickel different from the metal used for the vaporizing tube 8 and the sterilant spraying nozzle 11. The inner surfaces of the vaporizing tube 8 and the sterilant spraying nozzle 11 may be coated with polytetrafluoroethylene or perfluoroalkoxy fluororesin, or plated with chromium impregnated with polytetrafluoroethylene or perfluoroalkoxy fluororesin.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a conventional sterilant spray nozzle 11. The configuration of the sterilant spray device 2, the extension pipe 5, the spray nozzle 6, and the vaporizing section 7 is the same as that of the first embodiment of the present disclosure shown in FIG. 2. However, the sterilant spray nozzle 11 is a cylindrical nozzle. The inner diameter of the sterilant spray nozzle 11 is smaller than the inner diameter of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12. FIG. 4 shows the state of spraying the sterilant into the inside of the bottle 12 by the conventional sterilant spray nozzle 11. The sterilant is sprayed from the fixed sterilant spray nozzle 11 into the inside of the bottle 12 that is conveyed directly below the sterilant spray nozzle 11. The sterilant gas or mist, or a mixture thereof, sprayed into the inside of the bottle 12 by the pressure of compressed air is inverted after reaching the bottom of the bottle 12, and overflows from the opening of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12. The overflowing sterilant is discharged to the outside of the bottle 12.

[0041] When the compressed air pressure is low, the sterilant does not reach the bottom of bottle 12. However, when the compressed air pressure is increased, the sterilant reaches the bottom of bottle 12, but after hitting the bottom, the sterilant turns over and overflows from the bottle in a large amount. As a result, the amount of sterilant adhering to the inner surface of bottle 12 is not sufficient for sterilization. In particular, the amount of sterilant adhering to the inner surface of mouth 13 of bottle 12 is small, which causes insufficient sterilization of the inner surface of mouth 13 of bottle 12.

[0042] Conventionally, on the assumption that the sterilant will overflow from the bottle 12, an annular wall is provided surrounding the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 to allow the overflowing sterilant to flow along the outer surface of the bottle 12. The overflowing sterilant sterilizes the outer surface of the bottle 12. Patent Document 7 also proposes that the inside and outside of the bottle are sterilized simultaneously by transporting the bottle through a tunnel-shaped cover and spraying the sterilant into the tunnel from a fixed sterilant spray nozzle provided at the top of the tunnel.

[0043] In the conventional sterilant spray nozzle 11 shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical nozzle extends from the vaporizing tube 8, and the inner diameter of the sterilant spray nozzle 11 must be smaller than the inner diameter of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12. For example, if the inner diameter of the sterilant spray nozzle 11 is 10 mmφ, the nozzle is simply cylindrical, and if the thickness of the nozzle is 2 mm, the outer diameter is about 14 mmφ. The inner diameter of a normal bottle 12 for beverages is 28 mmφ. When the sterilant is sprayed from this sterilant spray nozzle 11 into the inside of the bottle 12 being transported, as described above, most of the sterilant overflows from the opening of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12, and the amount of sterilant adhering to the inside of the bottle 12, particularly the inner surface of the mouth 13, cannot be secured.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 1, sterilant spray nozzle 11 is heated by heat conducted from heating device 9 through vaporizer tube 8. However, because of its cylindrical shape, it is cooled by room temperature and its temperature becomes lower than that of vaporizer tube 8. The sprayed sterilant is cooled by sterilant spray nozzle 11 whose temperature has been reduced, and the gas turns into mist. If the temperature drop is severe, the sterilant may liquefy and drip from sterilant spray nozzle 11 in liquid form.

[0045] A sterilant spray nozzle 11 according to the present disclosure is shown in Figure 2. The sterilant spray nozzle 11 is a fixed sterilant spray nozzle that gasifies a sterilant and sprays the gasified sterilant from the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 being transported into the inside of the bottle 12, and is provided with a horizontal surface 16 that surrounds the spray hole 15 of the sterilant spray nozzle 11 and extends from the tip surface of the spray hole 15, and the horizontal surface 16 shields the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 from the start of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole 15 onto the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 until the end of spraying.

[0046] A feature of the disinfectant spray nozzle 11 according to the present disclosure is that the outer surface of the spray hole 15 of the disinfectant spray nozzle 11 is not cylindrical as in Fig. 1, but has a horizontal surface 16 that is flush with the tip of the spray hole 15. The horizontal surface 16 shields the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 from the start of spraying the disinfectant onto the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 to the end of spraying.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows the state in which the sterilant spray nozzle 11 according to the present disclosure sprays the sterilant into the inside of the bottle 12. The horizontal surface 16 covers the entire mouth 13 of the bottle 12. The sterilant sprayed into the inside of the bottle 12 by the sterilant spray nozzle 11 reaches the bottom of the bottle 12, then turns over and flows to the mouth 13 of the bottle 12. The sterilant that flows into the mouth 13 collides with the horizontal surface 16, and without being discharged from the mouth 13 to the outside of the bottle 12, it heads toward the inside of the bottle 12, remains inside the bottle 12, and adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 12, contributing to sterilization of the inner surface of the bottle 12. The sterilant that collides with the horizontal surface 16 is reduced in momentum by turning over, and adhesion to the inner surface of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 can be enhanced. As a result, the sterilization effect of not only the inside of the bottle 12 but also the inner surface of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 can be enhanced.

[0048] The top surface of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 and the horizontal surface 16 that shields the mouth 13 are parallel. The top surface of the mouth 13 and the horizontal surface 16 are not in contact. If they are in contact, the air inside the bottle 12 is not discharged and the sterilant cannot be blown in. As shown in FIG. 5, if the distance is d, d is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less. If it is less than 0.5 mm, the top surface of the mouth 13 and the horizontal surface 16 may come into contact. If it exceeds 5 mm, the sterilant blown into the inside of the bottle 12 will turn over after reaching the bottom of the bottle 12, flow to the mouth 13, and collide with the horizontal surface 16, and the amount of sterilant overflowing between the top surface of the mouth 13 and the horizontal surface 16 will increase. By reducing the amount of sterilant flowing inside the bottle 12, the amount of sterilant adhering to the inside of the bottle 12 will decrease, and the sterilizing effect on the inside of the bottle 12, especially the inner surface of the mouth 13, will decrease. Although the amount of sterilant blown into the bottle 12 is limited, it will overflow.

[0049] By reducing the distance between the top surface of the mouth 13 and the horizontal surface 16 shielding the mouth 13, the amount of germicide spilling out from between the top surface of the mouth 13 and the horizontal surface 16 is reduced, and the amount of germicide adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 12 is increased, thereby improving the germicide effect on the inner surface of the bottle 12, particularly the inner surface of the mouth 13.

[0050] By making d small, horizontal surface 16 shielding mouth 13 prevents the sterilant from being discharged to the outside of bottle 12. The sterilant is blown into bottle 12 by the pressure of compressed air. Since horizontal surface 16 shielding mouth 13 prevents the compressed air from being discharged from bottle 12 to the outside, the inside of bottle 12 becomes positive pressure.

[0051] The pressure inside the bottle 12 to which the sterilant is sprayed is determined by the pressure of the compressed air and d. The pressure inside the bottle 12 can be determined by adjusting the values ​​of both.

[0052] From the start of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole 15 of the fixed sterilant spray nozzle 11 to the end of spraying the sterilant onto the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 conveyed directly below, the horizontal surface 16 shields the mouth 13 of the bottle 12. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 7, the length a of the horizontal surface 16 in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the bottle 12 moves is set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12, and the lengths b of the horizontal surfaces 16 on both sides of the spray hole 15 in the direction in which the bottle 12 moves are each set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth 13. In other words, the horizontal surface 16 shields the opening of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 from the moment the sterilant is sprayed into the inside of the bottle 12 from the spray hole 15 to the moment the spraying of the sterilant ends.

[0053] 7, the horizontal plane is rectangular, but the support rings 14 of the bottles 12 are gripped by a number of grippers provided around the circumference of the wheel, and the bottles 12 are conveyed in an arc as the wheel rotates. Therefore, the horizontal plane 16 may be arc-shaped.

[0054] The horizontal surface 16 must be large enough to at least shield the inside diameter of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 from the moment the sterilant is sprayed from the spray hole 15 of the sterilant spray nozzle 11 onto the mouth 13 of the bottle 12 conveyed directly below the sterilant spray nozzle 11 until the spraying of the sterilant is completed. As long as this condition is satisfied, the shape and size of the horizontal surface may be any.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 2, sterilant spray nozzle 11 according to the present disclosure has horizontal surface 16 surrounding spray hole 15 extending from vaporizer tube 8. Horizontal surface 16 extending from vaporizer tube 8 is not directly heated by heating device 9. However, the outer surface of the protrusion having horizontal surface 16 may be heated. By heating, spray hole 15 is not cooled, and it is possible to prevent the gasified sterilant from liquefying and turning into droplets at spray hole 15.

[0056] The length a of the horizontal surface 16 in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the bottle 12 moves is set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12, and the lengths b of the horizontal surfaces 16 on both sides of the spray hole 15 in the direction in which the bottle 12 moves are set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth 13. Therefore, the sterilant spray nozzle 11 has a larger volume than the conventional sterilant spray nozzle 11 shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 2, even if the sterilant spray nozzle 11 is not directly heated, it is heated to a high temperature by heat conduction from the heating device 9, and has a large heat capacity due to its large volume, so it is not easily cooled like the conventional sterilant spray nozzle 11, and there is little possibility that the gasified sterilant will liquefy at the spray hole 15.

[0057] (Embodiment 2) Sterilant gasification apparatus 1 of embodiment 2 according to the present disclosure is shown in Fig. 3. Sterilant sprayer 2, extension pipe 5, spray nozzle 6, and vaporization section 7 are the same as those of embodiment 1. In embodiment 1, sterilant spray nozzle 11 extends from vaporization tube 8 in accordance with the shape of horizontal surface 16, but in embodiment 2, sterilant spray nozzle 11 extends from vaporization tube 8 and has horizontal surface 16 at its tip.

[0058] As in embodiment 1, the size of the horizontal surface 16 is such that the length a of the horizontal surface 16 perpendicular to the direction in which the bottle 12 moves is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the mouth 13 of the bottle 12, and the length b of the horizontal surface 16 on both sides of the spray hole 15 in the direction in which the bottle 12 moves is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the mouth 13.

[0059] 6 shows the state of disinfectant spraying onto bottle 12 by disinfectant spray nozzle 11 according to embodiment 2. When disinfectant is sprayed into the inside of bottle 12 from mouth 13 of bottle 12, if horizontal surface 16 can shield the inner diameter of mouth 13, the same effect as in embodiment 1 can be obtained.

[0060] Unlike the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the outer shape between the horizontal surface 16 and the vaporizing tube 8 is the outer shape of the spray hole 15. By doing so, if an inconvenience occurs with the horizontal surface 16, such as damage to the horizontal surface 16, deterioration due to the disinfectant, or the horizontal surface 16 being unable to be maintained due to accumulation of additives contained in the disinfectant, only the horizontal surface 16 can be easily replaced. It is necessary to make the horizontal surface 16 detachable from the tip of the outer shape of the spray hole 15. Maintenance of the disinfectant spray nozzle 11 is easier than in the first embodiment.

[0061] By incorporating a heating device between the vaporization tube 8 and the horizontal surface 16, it becomes possible to maintain the temperatures of the spray hole 15 and the horizontal surface 16 at an appropriate level, thereby preventing the sterilant gas from liquefying at the spray hole 15.

[0062] In the first embodiment, it is complicated to process horizontal surface 16 to extend beyond the cross-sectional length of vaporizing tube 8. However, in the second embodiment, it is easily possible to form horizontal surface 16 into a shape that exceeds the cross-sectional length of vaporizing tube 8.

[0063] Although the present invention is configured as described above, it is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1. Disinfectant gasification equipment 2. Disinfectant spraying device 6…Spray nozzle 8...Evaporation tube 9...Heating device 11…Disinfectant spray nozzle 15...Blow hole 16…Horizontal plane

Claims

1. A fixed sterilant spray nozzle that gasifies a sterilant and sprays the gasified sterilant from a mouth of a bottle to an inside of the bottle, A horizontal surface is provided surrounding the spray hole of the sterilant spray nozzle and extending from the tip surface of the spray hole; The top surface of the mouth of the bottle conveyed directly below the sterilizing agent spray nozzle is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the distance between the top surface of the mouth of the bottle and the horizontal plane is 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less, The horizontal surface shields the mouth of the bottle from the start of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole to the end of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole to the mouth of the bottle, The length of the horizontal plane including the blowing hole in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the bottle is transported is set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth of the bottle, and the lengths of the horizontal planes on both sides of the blowing hole in the direction in which the bottle is transported are each set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth, The horizontal surface that covers the mouth of the bottle prevents the disinfectant from being discharged from the bottle to the outside, creating a positive pressure inside the bottle; The disinfectant spray nozzle inverts the disinfectant to be sprayed inside the bottle after it reaches the bottom of the bottle, and causes the disinfectant that has flowed to the mouth of the bottle to collide with the horizontal surface, toward the inside of the bottle, and causes the disinfectant to remain inside the bottle and adhere to the inner surface of the bottle.

2. A fixed sterilant spray nozzle that gasifies a sterilant and sprays the gasified sterilant from a mouth of a bottle to an inside of the bottle, A horizontal surface is provided surrounding the spray hole of the sterilant spray nozzle and extending from the tip surface of the spray hole; The top surface of the mouth of the bottle conveyed directly below the sterilizing agent spray nozzle is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the distance between the top surface of the mouth of the bottle and the horizontal plane is 0.5 mm or more and 5 mm or less; The mouth of the bottle is covered by the horizontal surface from the start of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole to the end of spraying the sterilant from the spray hole to the mouth of the bottle, The length of the horizontal plane including the blowing hole in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the bottle is transported is set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth of the bottle, and the lengths of the horizontal planes on both sides of the blowing hole in the direction in which the bottle is transported are each set to be equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the mouth, The horizontal surface that covers the mouth of the bottle prevents the disinfectant from being discharged from the bottle to the outside, creating a positive pressure inside the bottle; This method of spraying a disinfectant includes inverting the disinfectant to be sprayed inside the bottle after it reaches the bottom of the bottle, allowing the disinfectant that has flowed to the mouth of the bottle to collide with the horizontal surface, directing the disinfectant toward the inside of the bottle, causing it to remain inside the bottle, and spraying the disinfectant so as to adhere to the inner surface of the bottle.

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