Method for sterilizing caps and apparatus for sterilizing caps

Abstract

To provide a cap sterilization method and a compact cap sterilizer that can sterilize caps in a short time with a simple process.SOLUTION: At least two vertical rows of wheels are installed so that caps are transported as they pass the upper ends of the wheels, and hydrogen peroxide gas is blown to the caps from below for sterilization as they are transported from top to bottom.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing a cap for sealing a bottle filled with contents and a cap sterilization device in a aseptic filling machine.

Background Art

[0002] There have been proposed a method and a device for filling a aseptic container, in which a preform is sterilized, the sterilized preform is heated, the heated preform is formed into a bottle, the formed bottle is filled with sterilized contents in an aseptic atmosphere, and the bottle filled with the contents is sealed with a sterilized cap (Patent Document 1). Also, there have been proposed a method and a device for filling a aseptic container, in which a preform is formed into a bottle, the formed bottle is sterilized, the sterilized bottle is filled with sterilized contents in an aseptic atmosphere, and the bottle filled with the contents is sealed with a sterilized cap (Patent Document 2). Various methods and devices for sterilizing caps supplied to such aseptic filling machines have also been proposed.

[0003] Conventional cap sterilization devices generally spray a sterilizing liquid into a chamber for the caps being conveyed. For example, there are a device that sprays a mist of a sterilizing agent with the opening of the cap facing sideways (Patent Document 3), and a device that injects a sterilizing liquid with the opening of the cap facing downward (Patent Document 4). Also, there has been proposed a device that sprays a chemical solution toward the outer peripheral surface and the top surface of the cap with the opening of the cap facing upward, and sprays the chemical solution toward the inner surface to accumulate the chemical solution inside the mouth portion to sterilize the inner and outer surfaces of the cap (Patent Document 5).

[0004] Also, there have been proposed a device that sprays hot water with the opening of the cap facing downward or sideways without using a chemical agent (Patent Document 6), and a device that sprays steam with the opening of the cap facing sideways to sterilize (Patent Document 7).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-44902 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-111295 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-293319 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-152115 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-139416 [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-167386 [Patent Document 7] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-193009 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] In aseptic filling machines, sterilized bottles are filled with sterilized contents in a sterile atmosphere, and the filled bottles are sealed with sterilized caps. Here, cap sterilization has been carried out by spraying disinfectant or steam onto the caps or by immersing the caps in disinfectant. Spraying disinfectant or steam is inefficient because it is done individually on relatively small caps, resulting in a lot of loss of disinfectant or steam. In such cases, disinfectant or steam is sprayed onto aligned caps, but not all of the sprayed disinfectant or steam contributes to sterilization, and the disinfectant or steam that does not contribute to sterilizing the caps is exhausted and wasted. Sterilization with steam places a large heat load, which may cause the caps to deform. Also, when immersing caps in disinfectant, hot air is blown on after immersion to remove the disinfectant adhering to the complex screw threads formed on the inside of the cap, but this process This results in excessive energy consumption. All conventional methods involve processes such as sterilization, washing, and drying, which result in long processing times for the caps and require excessive processing equipment.

[0007] The cap sterilization devices described in Patent Documents 3, 4, and 5 all use disinfectants, and require processes such as hot air blowing, washing, and drying to remove the disinfectant and enhance the sterilization effect, resulting in excessive processing time and processing equipment.

[0008] The cap sterilization device described in Patent Document 4 sterilizes caps by sequentially blowing a disinfectant mist and hot air onto caps that are transported in a line. Because the caps are transported in a line, the device is long and cumbersome, resulting in a small number of caps being sterilized and low productivity.

[0009] The cap sterilization apparatus described in Patent Document 3 involves spraying a sterilizing solution onto caps transported by two rows of wheels arranged horizontally, washing them with sterile water, and drying them by blowing hot air. Because the caps are transported horizontally, the surface area of ​​the cap sterilization apparatus is large, and since sterilization is performed with a sterilizing solution, washing and drying processes are also required, resulting in an excessive amount of equipment.

[0010] The cap sterilization apparatus described in Patent Document 5 performs sterile water washing, chemical sterilization, and final washing on caps conveyed by a spiral conveying device, and conveyance between spiral conveying devices is performed by wheels. Although the processing capacity is large, the apparatus is complex and excessive.

[0011] The cap sterilization device described in Patent Document 6 transports caps using wheels arranged in a vertical row. Although the installation area of ​​the device is small, it sterilizes the entire surface of the caps by spraying them with hot water, which takes time and requires a large amount of hot water.

[0012] The cap sterilization device described in Patent Document 7 sterilizes using steam instead of disinfectants. While steam sterilization can be completed in a relatively short time, there is a risk that the caps may deform due to the heat of the steam. In aseptic filling, if the caps deform, a tiny gap will be created at the fitting part between the cap and the mouth of the container, and bacteria and other substances may enter through this gap and contaminate the contents. Therefore, cap deformation must be avoided. In addition, the caps are transported in a line, which makes the device long and cumbersome.

[0013] Therefore, there is a need for a simple cap sterilization method that can sterilize caps in a short amount of time, as well as a compact cap sterilization device.

[0014] The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a cap sterilization method and cap sterilization apparatus that responds to the need to sterilize caps in a short time with a simple device, by flowing hydrogen peroxide gas from below onto caps that are conveyed from above to below by wheels provided in at least two rows in the vertical direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The method for sterilizing a cap according to the present invention involves providing a recess in the peripheral edge of the wheel in which the cap is housed, The upper wheel and the lower wheel are positioned at different vertical positions.The invention is characterized in that, within a chamber that shields the wheels, the center of the upper wheel is above the upper end of the lower wheel, and at least two rows of upper and lower wheels are arranged in close proximity in the vertical direction, the cap is stored in the recess of the uppermost wheel, the cap is transported from the top to the bottom of the chamber, passing over the upper end of the wheel, with the closing surface of the cap parallel to the surface of the wheel by transfer between the wheels, and hydrogen peroxide gas is flowed from the bottom of the chamber to sterilize the cap. Furthermore, a method for sterilizing a cap according to another embodiment of the present invention is characterized by providing a recess in the periphery of a wheel in which the cap is stored, having the center of the upper wheel above the upper end of the lower wheel in the vertical direction within a chamber that shields the wheel, the distance between the center of the upper wheel and the upper end of the lower wheel being greater than 0 and less than 1 / 4 of the diameter of the upper wheel, having at least two rows of upper and lower wheels close together in the vertical direction, storing the cap in the recess of the uppermost wheel, transporting the cap from the top to the bottom of the chamber by passing it between the wheels with the closing surface of the cap parallel to the surface of the wheel, and flowing hydrogen peroxide gas from the bottom of the chamber to sterilize the cap.

[0016] Furthermore, in the method for sterilizing a cap according to the present invention, it is preferable to sterilize the cap by flowing the hydrogen peroxide gas and heated gas from below the chamber.

[0017] Furthermore, in the method for sterilizing caps according to the present invention, it is preferable that the heated gas is either heated air, heated steam, or both.

[0018] The cap sterilization device according to the present invention has a recess in the peripheral edge for storing the cap. The upper wheel and the lower wheel are positioned at different vertical positions.The center of the upper wheel in the vertical direction is above the upper end of the lower wheel, and the distance between the upper wheel and the lower wheel is close enough to allow the transfer of the cap. At least two rows of the wheels in the vertical direction are installed such that the cap is conveyed while passing through the upper end of the wheel. A chamber that shields the wheels, a cap supply device that supplies the cap to the uppermost wheel in the chamber, a cap discharge device that discharges the cap from the lowermost wheel in the chamber to the outside of the chamber, and a hydrogen peroxide water gas supply device that supplies hydrogen peroxide water gas from below the chamber. It is characterized by comprising the above. Further, the cap sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention has a recess for storing the cap at the peripheral edge. The center of the upper wheel in the vertical direction is above the upper end of the lower wheel, and the distance between the center of the upper wheel and the upper end of the lower wheel exceeds 0 and is up to 1 / 4 of the diameter of the upper wheel. The distance between the upper wheel and the lower wheel is close enough to allow the transfer of the cap. At least two rows of the wheels in the vertical direction are provided. A chamber that shields the wheels, a cap supply device that supplies the cap to the uppermost wheel in the chamber, a cap discharge device that discharges the cap from the lowermost wheel in the chamber to the outside of the chamber, and a hydrogen peroxide water gas supply device that supplies hydrogen peroxide water gas from below the chamber. It is characterized by comprising the above.

[0019] Further, in the cap sterilization device according to the present invention, it is preferable to include a heating gas supply device that supplies heating gas from below the chamber.

[0020] Further, in the cap sterilization device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the heating gas supply device is configured to supply either heated air or heated water vapor or both together.

Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to the method for sterilizing the cap and the cap sterilization device of the present invention, a recess for accommodating the cap is provided at the peripheral edge of the wheel, and in the vertical direction within the chamber that shields the wheel, the center of the upper wheel is above the upper end of the lower wheel, and two rows are provided vertically with a close interval between the upper wheel and the lower wheel. The cap is accommodated in the recess of the wheel provided at the uppermost part, and the cap is conveyed parallel to the closing surface of the cap with respect to the wheel surface by transferring between the wheels from above to below in the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide gas is flowed from below the chamber to sterilize the cap.

[0022] By supplying hydrogen peroxide gas from below to the cap conveyed from above to below, the hydrogen peroxide gas comes into contact with all the caps conveyed in the chamber, so the time for the cap to contact the hydrogen peroxide gas can be lengthened, and the sterilization effect is high. Also, since the hydrogen peroxide gas can be brought into contact with the cap for a long time, the amount of hydrogen peroxide used can be reduced.

[0023] Since the cap sterilization device arranges the wheels in the vertical direction, the installation area is small. Also, since the cap is sterilized by supplying hydrogen peroxide gas from below the chamber, the device is simple.

[0024] The sterilization effect can be enhanced by a simple operation of supplying a heating gas from below the chamber together with the hydrogen peroxide gas.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a side view showing the cap according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a plan view showing an outline of a cap supply device that supplies a cap to a cap sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a side view showing an outline of a cap supply device that supplies a cap to a cap sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]This is a side view showing the transport state of the cap from the receiving tank upward according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This shows a cap sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This shows the state in which the cap is held in the cap sterilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0027] The cap 1 shown in Figure 1 is supplied to the cap sterilization device 8 shown in Figure 5 by the cap supply device 6 shown in Figure 2, where it is sterilized. The sterilized cap 1 is discharged from the cap sterilization device 8 to the sterile atmosphere of the aseptic filling machine via the cap discharge rail 9. The discharged cap 1 is then used by a capper located in the sealing section of the aseptic filling machine to seal the container filled with the sterilized contents.

[0028] In this embodiment, the cap 1 seals bottles that have been sterilized in an aseptic filling machine and filled with contents sterilized in an aseptic atmosphere, using a crimping machine, and has a shape as shown in Figure 1, for example. The cap 1 is made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene and is formed by injection molding or compression molding. On the inside of the cap 1, a female thread and, although flat in Figure 1, a grooved portion for fitting with the top surface of the bottle opening are formed at the same time as molding.

[0029] After molding, cap 1 is placed in a container at the molding plant, sealed, and transported to, for example, a beverage factory. The cap 1 transported to the beverage factory is supplied to an aseptic filling machine installed at the beverage factory. The supplied cap 1 is sterilized, and the sterilized cap 1 is transported to the sealing section of the aseptic filling machine, handed over to a sealing wheel equipped with a capper, and then tightly wrapped around the mouth of a bottle filled with contents by the capper. The mouth of the bottle has a male thread that engages with a female thread formed on the inside of cap 1. The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing cap 1 during the process of supplying cap 1 to the sealing section constituting an aseptic filling machine, and to a cap sterilization apparatus.

[0030] The caps 1, molded at the molding plant, are placed in polyethylene bags, which are then placed in metal, cardboard, or plastic containers and sealed. Care is taken to prevent contamination of the caps 1 with dirt, dust, etc., during transport from the molding plant to the beverage plant. Upon arrival at the beverage plant, the container is opened and tilted above the receiving tank 2, allowing the caps 1 inside to be dropped into the receiving tank 2. The receiving tank 2 is then opened upwards, allowing the caps 1 to be dropped from the container.

[0031] After cap 1 is inserted, the receiving tank 2 is sealed. The cap 1 inserted into the receiving tank 2 is stored in a disorderly manner. The receiving tank 2 has a hopper shape, formed so that the effective storage area decreases towards the bottom. The top of the receiving tank 2 is rectangular in Figure 2, but it may also be circular. The receiving tank 2 is made of a durable, corrosion-resistant material such as stainless steel.

[0032] Cap 1 is transported from the bottom of receiving tank 2 by conveyor 3. To maintain cleanliness inside receiving tank 2 while cap 1 is being transported, sterile air may be supplied to receiving tank 2 by passing air through a sterilization filter to eliminate sterilization.

[0033] As the caps 1 are transported by the conveyor 3, the number of caps 1 in the receiving tank 2 decreases. When the number reaches a certain level, the receiving tank 2 is opened, and the caps 1 are dropped from the container into the receiving tank 2. The receiving tank 2 is equipped with a cap level sensor, which detects the decrease in the number of caps 1 when the caps 1 no longer make contact with the sensor and triggers an alarm.

[0034] As shown in Figure 3, the caps 1 stored in the lower part of the receiving tank 2 are transported by a conveyor 3. The conveyor 3 has rails 4 installed perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor 3 at regular intervals, and the caps 1 that are caught on these rails 4 are transported by the conveyor 3. In addition, as shown in Figure 4, a curtain board 10 of a length that does not slide against the rails 4 is installed on the wall surface of the receiving tank 2 in the transport direction, and caps 1 that are above the rails 4 are excluded. Due to the exclusion effect of the curtain board 10, the caps 1 are transported by the conveyor 3 in a way that prevents multiple caps 1 from overlapping. The curtain board 10 should be made of a material that is flexible enough not to damage the caps 1 and does not deteriorate. For example, silicone rubber, fluororubber, perfluoroelastomer, fluorosilicone rubber, etc. are suitable.

[0035] The width of the lower opening of the receiving tank 2 is set to be narrower than the width of the conveyor 3 and the rail 4. This is to prevent the caps 1 from falling off the conveyor 3 and the rail 4. The height of the rail 4 is preferably 0.8 to 1.5 times the height of the caps 1. This height allows the caps 1 to be held back by the rail 4 and placed on the conveyor 3. If it is less than 0.8 times, there is a risk that they will be removed by the curtain board 10, and if it exceeds 1.5 times, there is a risk that two caps 1 will overlap and get caught on the rail 4. The conveyor 3 needs to be flexible, and it is preferable that it be made of the same material as the curtain board 10. Also, it is preferable that the rail 4 be made of plastic so as not to damage the caps 1.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, the conveyor 3 transports the caps 1 upwards. The normal position is when the closed surface 1b of the cap 1 is in contact with the conveyor 3. The position when the open surface 1a of the cap 1 is in contact with the conveyor 3 is called the reverse cap and is an irregular position. As shown in Figure 4, the conveyor 3 is positioned slightly tilted from an upright position so that the surface of the conveyor 3 faces upwards. The lower end of the conveyor 3 is positioned below the receiving tank 2. The spacing between the rails 4 is slightly wider than the diameter of the caps 1, and when the conveyor 3 is driven, the caps 1 stored in the receiving tank 2 are picked up by the rails 4. At this time, there are caps 1 in the normal position and caps 1 in the irregular position. However, the center of gravity of the caps 1 in the irregular position is outside the rails 4, and they fall from the rails 4 to the lower end of the conveyor 3. The fallen caps 1 are picked up by the rails 4 until they are in the normal position.

[0037] The caps 1 are arranged at irregular intervals along the rails 4 in a normal position. The caps 1, lifted by the conveyor 3, are moved horizontally by sterile air blown from the nozzles 7, aligned by the alignment device 5, and introduced into the cap sterilization device 8. The nozzles 7 are devices for sending the caps 1, which are being transported by the rails 4, to the alignment device 5 with high-pressure sterile air, and are positioned parallel to the rails 4 so as to blow high-pressure sterile air between a pair of rails 4 corresponding to the alignment device 5. The high-pressure sterile air can be air from a blower that has been passed through a sterilization filter, or high-pressure air from a compressor that has been passed through a sterilization filter.

[0038] The cap supply rail 11 that supplies the caps 1 to the cap sterilization device 8 is inclined downward, and the caps 1 are transported while their sides rotate due to the weight of the caps 1. When the caps 1 are introduced into the cap sterilization device 8, the caps 1 are held by the cap supply rail 11 with their opening surface 1a facing sideways. The caps 1 are held by multiple rails. Two rails hold the opening surface 1a of the caps 1, two rails hold the closed surface 1b, and two rails each hold the sides, one above and one below. There may be only one rail each for holding the sides. The cross-section of the rails is circular, but they may also be polygonal or elliptical.

[0039] The caps 1 are supplied to the cap sterilization device 8 by a cap supply device 6 which includes a receiving tank 2, a conveyor 3 with rails 4, an alignment device 5, and a cap supply rail 11.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5, the caps 1 supplied to the cap sterilizer 8 are stored by their own weight in recesses provided on the periphery of the wheel A12 from the cap supply rail 11. The caps 1 stored in the recesses of the wheel A12 are transported by the rotation of the wheel A12. The caps 1 are supplied to the cap sterilizer 8 by the cap supply rail 11 with their closed surface 1b parallel to the surface of the wheel A12 and oriented laterally. The supplied caps 1 are then transported in the cap sterilizer 8 with their closed surface 1b parallel to the surface of the wheel A12 and oriented laterally.

[0041] On wheel A12, the cap 1 is held as shown in Figure 6. One side of the cap 1 is housed in a recess of wheel A12, and the cap 1 is transported as wheel A12 rotates by a cap support rail 17 that supports the opposite side, and by two cap support rails 17 that support the open surface 1a and two closed surface 1b of the cap 1.

[0042] Cap 1 is transferred from wheel A12 to wheel B13. It is then transported from wheel B13 through wheel C14 to wheel D15. Wheels A12, B13, C14, and D15 are shielded by chamber 16. Figure 5 shows four wheels, but any two or more wheels are acceptable. With only one wheel, sufficient residence time in chamber 16 cannot be ensured, resulting in insufficient sterilization.

[0043] The recess provided in each wheel can be of any size or shape as long as it can accommodate the cap 1. The depth of the recess is preferably between 1 / 2 and 1 / 2 of the diameter of the cap 1. If the depth is less than 1 / 2 of the diameter of the cap, it may not be able to support the cap 1 during transport, and if it is 1 / 2 or more of the diameter of the cap 1, it may not be possible to transfer the cap 1 between wheels. The shape of the bottom of the recess is preferably a semicircle that matches the diameter of the cap 1.

[0044] Wheels A12, B13, C14, and D15 are arranged vertically, and the caps 1 are sequentially transported from wheel A12, which is located at the top of the chamber 16, to wheel D15, which is located below. The center of wheel A12, which is located at the top, is positioned above the upper end of wheel B13, which is located below. If the center of wheel A12 is below the upper end of wheel B13, the chamber 16 will become larger horizontally, and the cap sterilization device 8 cannot be made compact. Also, wheels A12 and B13 are positioned close enough to allow for the transfer of caps 1. The distance between the center of wheel A12 and the upper end of wheel B13 is preferably greater than 0 and up to 1 / 4 of the wheel diameter. If the distance is too large, the residence time of the caps 1 in the chamber 16 cannot be extended.

[0045] Wheels A12 and B13 are positioned at different locations in the vertical direction. Therefore, at least two rows of wheels are provided vertically within the chamber 16. Three or more rows of wheels may be provided vertically. In Figure 5, wheel C14 is provided vertically below wheel A12, and wheel D15 is provided vertically below wheel B13, but wheels may be provided further below. The wheel diameters are shown to be the same, but the diameters of each wheel may be different.

[0046] The caps 1 being transported inside the chamber 16 are sterilized by flowing hydrogen peroxide gas from below the chamber 16. A hydrogen peroxide gas supply device 18 is provided in the cap sterilization device 8 to supply hydrogen peroxide gas to the chamber 16. The hydrogen peroxide gas supplied by the hydrogen peroxide gas supply device 18 is supplied to the bottom of the chamber 16 as shown in Figure 5.

[0047] The hydrogen peroxide gas supply device 18 is a device that gasifies hydrogen peroxide and supplies hydrogen peroxide gas to the chamber 16. The hydrogen peroxide gas supply device 18 is equipped with a hydrogen peroxide gas generator that produces hydrogen peroxide gas. The hydrogen peroxide gas generator comprises a hydrogen peroxide supply unit, which is a two-fluid spray nozzle that supplies hydrogen peroxide in droplet form, and a vaporization unit that heats the hydrogen peroxide supplied from the hydrogen peroxide supply unit to below its decomposition temperature to vaporize it. The hydrogen peroxide supply unit introduces hydrogen peroxide and compressed air from a hydrogen peroxide supply passage and a compressed air supply passage, respectively, and sprays the hydrogen peroxide into the vaporization unit. The vaporization unit is a pipe with a heater sandwiched between its inner and outer walls, and heats and vaporizes the hydrogen peroxide blown into this pipe. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas is ejected out of the vaporization unit from a hydrogen peroxide gas spraying nozzle. The ejected hydrogen peroxide gas is supplied to the bottom of the chamber 16.

[0048] The operating conditions for the hydrogen peroxide supply unit include, for example, adjusting the compressed air pressure within the range of 0.05 MPa to 0.6 MPa. In this case, a suitable compressed air supply rate is 50 L / min to 300 L / min. Furthermore, the hydrogen peroxide can be supplied by gravity or under pressure, and the supply rate can be freely set; for example, hydrogen peroxide can be supplied to the hydrogen peroxide supply path in the range of 1 g / min to 100 g / min. Additionally, the inner surface of the vaporization unit is heated to 120°C to 450°C to vaporize the sprayed disinfectant.

[0049] Although an example of a hydrogen peroxide gas generator is shown, which atomizes hydrogen peroxide by spraying it into a heated vaporization section, any device that generates hydrogen peroxide gas is acceptable as a hydrogen peroxide gas generator. The hydrogen peroxide gas supply device 18 includes a hydrogen peroxide gas generator and a supply pipe for supplying the generated hydrogen peroxide gas to the chamber 16. Furthermore, a pressurizing device, valves, hydrogen peroxide concentration meter, etc., for supplying hydrogen peroxide gas may also be provided.

[0050] The appropriate hydrogen peroxide content in hydrogen peroxide solution is in the range of 0.5% to 65% by mass. Below 0.5% by mass, the bactericidal effect may be insufficient, and above 65% by mass, handling becomes difficult for safety reasons. More preferably, it is between 0.5% and 40% by mass. Below 40% by mass, handling is easier, and because the hydrogen peroxide concentration is low, the amount of residual disinfectant after sterilization can be reduced. In addition, it may contain one or more alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, and butyl alcohol, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and acetylacetone, and glycol ethers. Furthermore, it may contain additives such as organic acids such as peracetic acid and acetic acid, inorganic acids such as nitric acid, basic compounds such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, compounds with bactericidal effects such as sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, and ozone, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, and phosphoric acid compounds.

[0051] By supplying heated gas to the chamber 16, the sterilization effect of hydrogen peroxide gas on the cap 1 is improved. As shown in Figure 5, the cap sterilization device 8 is provided with a heated gas supply device 19 that supplies heated gas from below the chamber 16.

[0052] The heated gas supplied by the heated gas supply device 19 is either heated air, heated water vapor, or a combination thereof. The gas to be heated may also be nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, or other gases besides air and water vapor. The heated gas is supplied from below the chamber 16. ru.

[0053] Heated air is obtained by heating compressed air from a compressor or air supplied by a blower with a heating device such as a heater or burner. The temperature of the obtained heated air is appropriately between 40°C and 170°C. Below 40°C, an improvement in the sterilization effect cannot be expected, and above 170°C, there is a risk that the cap 1 may deform. It is preferable that the air before heating is sterilized air that has passed through a sterilization filter. Although it is assumed that bacteria in the air will be sterilized by hydrogen peroxide gas, there is a risk that some bacteria that are not sterilized may remain. The air supply device, sterilization filter, and heating device for heating the air are provided as a heated gas supply device 19.

[0054] The heated steam is generated by a superheated steam generator that heats water using electricity or fuel. The water used may also be purified by passing it through a reverse osmosis membrane. Boilers that convert water into steam use boiler water treatment agents and condensate treatment agents, but food-grade products are used. Furthermore, the boiler body and conveying piping are preferably made of stainless steel. Filters, activated carbon, or ultrafiltration membranes may be used to remove foreign matter, ions, chemicals, etc. from the heated steam. In addition, the superheated steam supply device is preferably a reboiler that generates superheated steam by exchanging heat with water that has passed through a reverse osmosis membrane, using superheated steam as a heat source. The temperature of the heated steam is appropriate between 105°C and 170°C. Below 105°C, there is a risk of the steam liquefying, and above 170°C, there is a risk of the cap 1 deforming. A water supply device and a superheated steam generator that converts water into heated steam are provided as a heated gas supply device 19.

[0055] The heated gas is supplied to the chamber 16 separately from the hydrogen peroxide gas. Alternatively, a conduit from the heated gas supply device 19 can be connected to the conduit that supplies the hydrogen peroxide gas to the chamber 16, and the hydrogen peroxide gas and heated gas can be mixed in the conduit and supplied to the bottom of the chamber 16. The heated gas can raise the temperature of the hydrogen peroxide gas and improve its sterilization effect.

[0056] The hydrogen peroxide gas supplied into the chamber 16 flows from bottom to top, coming into contact with the cap 1 which is transported from top to bottom in the chamber 16, and sterilizing bacteria and other microorganisms present on the surface of the cap 1. The sterilization effect is enhanced when the hydrogen peroxide gas and the cap 1 flow in opposite directions. If they flow in the same direction, the airflow generated by the flow of the transported cap 1 will also flow in the same direction, and it is thought that the opportunities for the hydrogen peroxide gas to come into contact with the cap 1 will decrease.

[0057] It is preferable to provide an exhaust device 20 on the upper surface of the chamber 16 in order to allow the hydrogen peroxide gas to flow from the bottom to the top of the chamber 16. The exhaust device 20 may exhaust an amount of gas equal to the amount of hydrogen peroxide gas and heating gas supplied to the chamber 16, or it may exhaust an amount of gas greater than or equal to the amount of hydrogen peroxide gas and heating gas supplied, thereby keeping the pressure inside the chamber 16 below atmospheric pressure. This is because even if outside air flows in from the opening that supplies the cap 1, it will be sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide gas. The exhaust device 20 is a blower, and it is preferable to provide a filter between the chamber 16 and the blower that decomposes hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.

[0058] It is preferable that the inside of the chamber 16 of the cap sterilization device 8 be sterilized before operation. At this time, the inside of the chamber 16 can be sterilized by supplying hydrogen peroxide gas to the chamber 16 using the hydrogen peroxide gas supply device 18. It is not necessary to provide a separate device for sterilizing the inside of the chamber 16.

[0059] The sterilized caps 1 are discharged from the chamber 16 by a cap discharge device. The cap discharge device is, for example, the cap discharge rail 9 shown in Figure 5. The caps are transferred from the wheel D15 to the cap discharge rail 9 by their own weight. The cap discharge rail 9 has the same structure as the cap supply rail 11 and is inclined downwards, and by the weight of the caps 1... The cap 1 is transported while its sides are rotated. The transported cap 1 is then transported by the cap discharge rail 9 to the sterilized sealing section of the aseptic filling machine adjacent to the chamber 16. The cap discharge device may also be a device that blows sterile air onto the cap 1 and discharges it.

[0060] The transported caps 1 are used to seal containers in the sealing section of the aseptic filling machine. Since the amount of hydrogen peroxide remaining on the caps 1 sterilized in the chamber 16 is extremely small, there is no need to rinse the sterilized caps 1.

[0061] However, sterile air may be blown onto the sterilized cap 1. This is to remove any hydrogen peroxide and foreign matter that may remain on the cap 1. The sterile air may be air that has been sterilized by passing it through a filter from a blower, or compressed air that has been sterilized. It is generated by a sterile air supply device and supplied to a sterile air blowing nozzle. The sterile air blowing nozzle is provided on the opening surface 1a side and the closing surface 1b side of the cap 1.

[0062] Although the present invention is configured as described above, it is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 1…Cap 6…Cap supply device 8…Cap sterilization device 9... Cap discharge rail 11…Cap supply rail 12...Wheel A 16... Chamber 17…Cap support rail 18…Hydrogen peroxide gas supply device 19…Heated gas supply device

Claims

1. A recess is provided on the periphery of the wheel for storing the cap. The upper wheel and the lower wheel are positioned at different vertical positions. Within the chamber that shields the wheels, at least two rows of upper and lower wheels are arranged vertically, with the center of the upper wheel above the upper end of the lower wheel, and the upper and lower wheels are spaced close together. The cap is housed in the recess of the wheel located at the top, The cap is passed from above to below the chamber, through the upper end of the wheel, and the cap is transported by transferring it between the wheels so that the closing surface of the cap is parallel to the surface of the wheel. A method for sterilizing a cap, characterized by flowing hydrogen peroxide gas from below the chamber to sterilize the cap.

2. In the method for sterilizing a cap according to claim 1, A method for sterilizing a cap, characterized by flowing hydrogen peroxide gas and heated gas from below the chamber to sterilize the cap.

3. In the method for sterilizing a cap according to claim 2, A method for sterilizing a cap, characterized in that the heated gas is either heated air, heated water vapor, or both.

4. An upper wheel and a lower wheel, each having a recess for housing a cap in its peripheral edge, are positioned at different locations in the vertical direction, the center of the upper wheel is above the upper end of the lower wheel in the vertical direction, and the distance between the upper wheel and the lower wheel is close enough to allow the cap to be passed, and the cap is transported as it passes over the upper end of the wheel, with at least two rows of the wheels in the vertical direction. A chamber that shields the wheel, A cap supply device that supplies the cap to the uppermost wheel in the chamber, A cap discharge device for discharging the cap from the wheel at the bottom of the chamber to the outside of the chamber, and A cap sterilization device characterized by comprising a hydrogen peroxide gas supply device that supplies hydrogen peroxide gas from below the chamber.

5. In the cap sterilization device according to claim 4, A cap sterilization device characterized by comprising a heated gas supply device that supplies heated gas from the lower part of the chamber.

6. In the cap sterilization apparatus according to claim 5, A cap sterilization device characterized in that the heated gas supply device is configured to supply either heated air, heated steam, or both.

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