Drink Supply Piping Cleaning and Sterilization Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional cleaning and sterilization method for drink filling apparatuses is inefficient, leading to a long transition time between CIP and SIP processes, and requires downtime for switching operations, which decreases the operation rate and prevents product manufacturing during these processes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves performing CIP and SIP processes sequentially without interruption, using the cleaner from the CIP process for the SIP process, and adjusting the temperature condition in the drink supply piping before removing the cleaner with aseptic water, allowing continuous operation and reduced transition time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rinsing process is performed to rinse the cleaner with aseptic water at room temperature when transitioning from CIP to SIP process, then the cleaner is removed from the piping, but the temperature of the heating sterilization part decreases and needs to be raised again, causing a very long transition time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by maintaining the circulation of cleaner through the heating sterilization part during the temperature adjustment period. Instead of stopping the CIP process to perform rinsing, the system continuously circulates the cleaner while the heating sterilization part adjusts its temperature from CIP conditions to SIP conditions. This eliminates the interruption and extends the useful action of cleaner circulation beyond what was previously thought necessary, thereby reducing transition time without compromising cleaning quality.
2Reliability
If switching operations including change of UHT holding tube, replacement and inspection of filters, and disassembly and cleaning of homogenizer are performed between CIP process and SIP process, then the equipment is prepared for sterilization, but the switching operation takes a very long time and decreases operation rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing temperature adjustment of the heating sterilization part during the ongoing CIP process, before the SIP process officially begins. This preliminary temperature adjustment is done while the cleaner is still circulating, so that when the transition to SIP is complete, the heating sterilization part is already at the required temperature, eliminating the need for separate switching operations and reducing overall transition time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous operation of the drink filling apparatus by overlapping the temperature adjustment period with the ongoing CIP process. The cleaner circulation continues uninterrupted while the heating sterilization part transitions temperature, allowing the system to prepare for SIP without stopping production or performing separate switching operations, thereby maintaining high productivity.
3Reliability
If the CIP process and SIP process are performed separately with interruption between them, then each process can be completed thoroughly, but the overall process time increases and product manufacturing is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the temperature adjustment function into the CIP process by continuously circulating the cleaner through the heating sterilization part while it adjusts temperature from CIP to SIP conditions. This combines what were previously separate operations (CIP completion and SIP preparation) into a single continuous process, eliminating the interruption between CIP and SIP while maintaining the thoroughness of both processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by maintaining cleaner circulation throughout the entire transition period from CIP to SIP. The cleaner continues to flow through the heating sterilization part even as the temperature changes, eliminating idle time and keeping the system in a productive state throughout the transition, thereby improving product manufacturing efficiency without sacrificing cleaning and sterilization quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the time required for transitioning between CIP and SIP processes, maintains continuous operation, and enhances the overall efficiency of the drink filling apparatus by enabling product manufacturing during the sterilization processes.
Implementation Method 1
a heating sterilization part (UHT: Ultra High-temperature) arranged along the drink supply piping
Implementation Method 2
a product sterilization process is performed by heating and sterilizing the product in a heating sterilization part
Implementation Method 3
The SIP process is performed by passing a heated steam or hot water through the drink supply piping cleaned by the CIP process described above, for example. The heated steam or hot water is kept at 130°C, for example.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a method of cleaning and sterilizing a drink filling apparatus that can improve the operation rate of the drink filling apparatus so that products can be efficiently manufactured. There is provided a method of cleaning and sterilizing a drink filling apparatus that includes drink supply piping that feeds a product into a filling machine through a heating sterilization part. The method includes a CIP process of circulating a cleaner in the drink supply piping to remove a remaining foreign matter from a product or the like on an interior of the drink supply piping and an SIP process of sterilizing the interior of the drink supply piping. The CIP process and the SIP process are performed at the same time or in sequence without an interruption between the CIP process and the SIP process. The SIP process uses the cleaner circulating in the drink supply piping to sterilize the interior of the drink supply piping. After the SIP process, while the cleaner is kept circulating, a temperature condition at a predetermined position in the drink supply piping is adjusted to a temperature setting for manufacture. After the temperature condition at the predetermined position in the drink supply piping is adjusted to the temperature setting for manufacture, the cleaner in the drink supply piping is removed.