JP2018193123A - Washing sterilization method of container and washing sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing sterilization method of a container which prevents resoiling of the container between a washing sterilization process and a filling process, and a washing sterilizer.SOLUTION: A washing sterilization method of a container in this invention includes a step in which the container is made an inverted position that an opening portion and a bottom portion of the container are reversed, a step in which washing sterilization is made by injecting slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water in the container, a step in which draining of the container is performed by stopping injection of the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water, and a step in which a position of the container is returned to an erected position. Further, the step in which washing sterilization is made includes a step in which the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is injected to an outside surface of the container, and the container is conveyed to a filling process section in a state that the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water remains on the outside surface. The slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water has effective chlorine concentration of 10-80 mg/L, and pH is 5.0-6.5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a container cleaning and sterilizing method and a cleaning and sterilizing apparatus.

  In a beverage manufacturer, when a product is filled in a container, the container is sterilized and then filled. In particular, alcoholic beverages such as sake and beer may be altered by mixing with certain types of lactic acid bacteria, and the commercial value may be lost.

  Then, the method of disinfecting the microbe adhering to a container by wash | cleaning a container with the electrolyzed water which has a bactericidal action before a filling process, and preventing goods from contacting a microbe is known. For example, Japanese translations of PCT publication No. 2014-500830 (patent document 1) discloses a method of sterilizing by spraying "electrolyzed water" inside and outside a container.

  However, in Patent Document 1, “electrolyzed water” remaining after the container is washed does not cause a problem in product safety, but is not specifically described.

  By the way, in paragraph (0011) of Patent Document 1, there is a description of “a negatively charged solution and a positively charged solution”, and further, “high conversion rate of sodium chloride” and “electrolyzed water having a reduced chloride concentration”. Etc. ”. All of these descriptions indicate that “electrolyzed water” described in Patent Document 1 is electrolyzed water obtained by electrolyzing a salt solution in a diaphragm type electrolytic cell.

  However, since the “electrolyzed water” obtained by this method contains the salt as a raw material, in addition to the strong rusting action on the metal surface, the contained salt is concentrated by drying of the moisture, and finally It is widely known that it is difficult to use for sterilization of metal machinery because it becomes a deposited dirt.

  Therefore, there has been a demand for a technique for cleaning and sterilizing a container at low cost and preventing re-contamination without damaging mechanical equipment and further without contaminating the use environment.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the subject in the said prior art, and it aims at providing the washing | cleaning sterilization method and washing | cleaning sterilization apparatus which prevent the recontamination of a container between a washing | cleaning sterilization process and a filling process. .

That is, according to the present invention, a method for washing and sterilizing containers filled with beverages,
Washing and sterilizing by spraying slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water inside and outside the container;
In the washing and sterilizing step, draining the container;
A cleaning and sterilization method is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a cleaning and sterilizing method and a cleaning and sterilizing apparatus that prevent recontamination of a container between a cleaning and sterilization step and a filling step.

The figure which shows the schematic structural example of the washing | cleaning sterilization apparatus of the container in embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the process of washing | cleaning and sterilizing a container in this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated with embodiment, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned later. In the drawings referred to below, the same reference numerals are used for common elements, and descriptions thereof are omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a cleaning and sterilizing apparatus 100 for a container 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cleaning and sterilizing apparatus 100 includes conveyors 21, 22 and 23 as conveying means for conveying the container 10, and spray nozzles 31 and 32 for washing the container 10. In addition, the container 10 with which a drink is filled is a PET bottle, a glass bottle, etc., and is suitably selected according to a filling material.

  Moreover, since the cleaning sterilization apparatus 100 supplies the cleaning sterilizing liquid to the spray nozzles 31 and 32, a slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 40 for storing the cleaning sterilizing liquid and a slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 40 are provided. And a pump 50 for supplying the cleaning sterilizing liquid to the spray nozzles 31 and 32, each connected by a pipe or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the container 10 is carried into the cleaning and sterilizing apparatus 100 by the first conveyor 21. Then, it is captured by the gripping mechanism provided in the second conveyor 22 and proceeds. At this time, the container 10 assumes an inverted posture in which the opening and the bottom are reversed and the top and bottom are reversed in the process of traveling through the second conveyor 22.

  As the container 10 further advances, it reaches a predetermined position where the spray nozzles 31 and 32 are installed. At this time, the spray nozzles 31 and 32 are operated to clean and sterilize the container 10. That is, when the pump 50 is driven, the cleaning sterilizing liquid in the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water tank 40 is sprayed from the spray nozzles 31 and 32 to clean the container 10. In FIG. 1, the spray nozzle 31 sprays the cleaning sterilizing liquid from the opening of the container 10 toward the inside, and the spray nozzle 32 sprays the outer surface of the container 10.

  Note that slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is used as the cleaning sterilizing liquid in the present embodiment. Here, the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water will be described.

  Slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is designated as a food additive by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare because it is widely sterilized, has a high sterilization rate, and is non-toxic, non-irritating and inexpensive. In addition, slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water shows a practical sterilizing effect even at a low concentration compared to normal chlorinated water, while the sterilizing component is decomposed in a relatively short time, so it is mixed in food and drink. However, it has been confirmed that the quality is not affected. Due to these characteristics, slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is used not only in food production sites but also in a wide range of fields such as fisheries, agriculture and medical care.

  Slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is defined to be obtained by electrolyzing a hydrogen chloride solution or a mixture of a hydrogen chloride solution and a sodium chloride solution. As a method for obtaining a slightly acidic hypochlorous acid aqueous solution that does not contain salt and has a high bactericidal action, a method of electrolyzing a hydrogen chloride solution to produce a solution of free hypochlorous acid has been put into practical use. .

  The range of effective chlorine concentration is 10 to 80 mg / L, and the range of pH is 5.0 to 6.5 so that slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water stably maintains strong bactericidal power and has high safety. (April 26, 2012 Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Notification No. 345).

  As described above, since slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is also recognized as a food additive, it is suitable as a cleaning and sterilizing solution for beverage containers. In particular, in the present embodiment, as will be described later, since the cleaning sterilizing solution is not completely removed after the cleaning sterilization step until the filling step, highly safe slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is used. Furthermore, the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water in this embodiment uses only hydrochloric acid as a raw material in order to eliminate the influence on equipment and the environment.

  In the present embodiment, since the container 10 is sprayed with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water in an inverted position, if the spray nozzles 31 and 32 stop supplying the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water, the liquid is caused by gravity. Drops can drop and drain water naturally. Further, since the drainage is performed only by the action of gravity, the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water adhering to the inner surface and the outer surface of the container 10 is not completely removed. Therefore, slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water remains on the inner surface and the outer surface.

  Thus, even if the microbe suspended in the air adheres to the container 10 by transporting the container 10 to the next process in a state where the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water remains in the container 10, the microbe remains. It is immediately sterilized by the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water. Therefore, the clean state of the container 10 after washing and sterilization can be maintained even in a completely sterile environment.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the container 10 is sprayed with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water by spray nozzles 31 and 32 at a predetermined position, and then reaches the third conveyor 23 from the second conveyor 22. It is conveyed by the 3rd conveyor 23 to the area which performs a filling process. That is, as described above, the container 10 is transported to the filling process area with the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water remaining.

  Next, each step of the method for cleaning and sterilizing the container 10 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of cleaning and sterilizing the container 10 in the present embodiment.

  First, in step S1001, the container 10 is conveyed by the 1st conveyor 21 to the area which performs washing | cleaning sterilization work. The container 10 that has reached the cleaning and sterilization zone is conveyed by the second conveyor 22 and the opening and the bottom thereof are reversed in step S1002.

  Next, the cleaning and sterilization area is further advanced. In step S1003, slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is jetted into and out of the container 10 at a predetermined position where the spray nozzles 31 and 32 are installed to perform cleaning and sterilization. I do. Thereafter, in step S1004, the container 10 is drained by stopping the supply of slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water.

  After draining the container 10, in step S <b> 1005, the vertical posture is returned to the upright posture while moving on the second conveyor 22. And the container 10 is conveyed by the 3rd conveyor 23 to a filling process area. At this time, the inner surface and the outer surface of the container 10 are not subjected to a rinsing process with aseptic water or a drying process with aseptic wind, and the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is transported to the filling process in a film-like state. The Therefore, recontamination of the container 10 can be prevented, and the introduction of microorganisms into the filling process area can be prevented.

  By the process of the flowchart described above, recontamination of the container 10 can be prevented and the container 10 can be transported to the next process.

So far, the method for cleaning and sterilizing the container 10 in the present embodiment has been described. In addition, the present inventor conducted the following tests in order to confirm the above effects in the present embodiment.
(Test 1)

  The test used the equipment of the sake filling line, and verified the contamination state, sterilization effect, and sterilization effect of the bottle in the process from washing bottle to filling. In the filling line, the bottle is washed with a detergent in a washing machine, rinsed with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water, and discharged from the washing machine. Then, it is conveyed to the filling booth by a conveyor of about 6 meters with an upright posture with the opening facing up.

  The filling booth is not in a completely sealed environment, but is supplied with sterilized air from the ceiling of the booth. In addition, smoke tests have confirmed that outside air is intermittently entering the booth due to people coming in and out and wind.

  Four bottles were used as the bottles to be washed, and the following three types of samples were prepared. First, the first sample (hereinafter referred to as sample A) was aseptically collected immediately after being discharged from the bottle washer, and the opening was sealed with sterilized aluminum foil. Thereafter, the bottle is brought into a culture room, a sterile liquid medium for general bacteria (manufactured by Act Co., Ltd.) is poured into the bottle, left at room temperature (15-25 ° C.) for 24 hours, and then left at 36 ° C. for 48 hours. Enriched. The medium used for enrichment was planted in a colony-counting simple selection medium (manufactured by JNC Corporation) for Escherichia coli, lactic acid bacteria, baker's yeast, and general bacteria, and cultured according to the respective conventional methods to confirm the appearance of colonies.

  A second sample (hereinafter referred to as Sample B) was aseptically collected from the bottle discharged from the washing machine and conveyed to the filling booth by the conveyor, and the opening was sealed with sterilized aluminum foil. Thereafter, the cells were enriched and cultured by the same method as Sample A, and the appearance of colonies was confirmed.

  The third sample (hereinafter referred to as sample C) uses slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water (effective chlorine concentration 25 ppm, pH 6.2) inside and outside the bottle discharged from the washing machine, and spraying And sprayed. Then, the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water collected inside the bottle was discharged and conveyed to the filling booth by a conveyor. In addition, discharge | emission of slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is performed by making a bottle into an inverted posture and draining water from an opening part, and processing processes, such as drying, are not implemented. Therefore, the inside of the bottle is transported to the filling booth in a state where slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water remains. The bottles transported to the filling booth were aseptically collected and the openings were sealed with sterilized aluminum foil, then enriched and cultured by the same method as Sample A and Sample B, and the appearance of colonies was confirmed. .

  The slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water sprayed in this test uses a hydrogen chloride solution produced by electrolysis. However, as described above, the raw material of slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is not limited to this.

  Ten samples A to C cultured as described above were prepared, and the presence or absence of the appearance of colonies was compared. Table 1 below shows the number of confirmed colonies in each sample (number of positive samples / total number of samples).

  In sample A, the appearance of colonies of two types of fungi was confirmed, and in particular, for general bacteria, colonies appeared in 5 out of 10 samples. In addition, colonies were confirmed in one sample of lactic acid bacteria, and it was confirmed that the bacteria remained even in the bottle after the washing step.

  In sample B, colonies of general bacteria were confirmed, and the number thereof was 7 out of 10 with a relatively high incidence. Since this is higher than the incidence of general bacteria in sample A, there is a high possibility that the sample A was contaminated in the process of being conveyed by the conveyor.

  Sample C did not show colonies of any type of fungus in any bottle. In addition, the same test was performed three times with different dates, but none of the samples using slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water was positive.

  From the results of Test 1, it was shown that the bacteria remaining in the washing treatment can be sterilized by spraying slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water onto the bottle after washing with the washing machine. Moreover, it was shown that recontamination during transportation can be prevented by keeping the bottle wet with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water.

In particular, when filling alcoholic beverages such as sake, beer, wine, etc., in which the quality of the product is significantly deteriorated due to the mixing of lactic acid bacteria, it is effective to perform the cleaning by the method of this embodiment.
(Test 2)

  Further, in the cleaning and sterilization method of the present embodiment, since slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is intentionally left in the container 10, the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is mixed in the filled product in a very small amount. become. Therefore, in order to confirm the influence of the residue, a test was carried out to detect a change in flavor due to the residual slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water.

  The test was conducted as follows. First, like the sample C in the test 1, a slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water was sprayed on the inside and outside of the bottle discharged from the washing machine, drained, and a sample D filled with sake was prepared. Moreover, the sample E which filled the sake with the bottle wash | cleaned by the normal process without using slightly acidic electrolyzed water as a comparison object was prepared. Then, using the sample D and the sample E, 10 sake brewer employees were evaluated by a three-point identification method as panelists.

  The three-point identification method is implemented by preparing a first sample group with two samples D and one sample E, and a second sample group with one sample D and two samples E did. And each sample group was handed to each panelist, and the sample which felt that flavor was different from the other two of each sample group was reported.

  When the above test was carried out, eight sets of samples with different cleaning methods out of a total of 20 sets of samples were correctly answered. From this result, it was confirmed that there was no statistically significant difference, and that the flavor of the product after filling was not impaired even by washing and sterilization by the method of this embodiment.

  Next, the safety of residual slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water will be described. In addition, since the amount of slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water remaining in this embodiment is very small and quantitative analysis is difficult, the present inventor studied as follows.

  That is, it was washed with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water having an effective chlorine concentration of 25 ppm, and 1 ml of slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water remained in a 700 ml (corresponding to four-combined bottle) bottle without being decomposed. Assumed. Even if 700 ml of liquid is injected into the bottle and it is assumed that all free chlorine remains without being decomposed, the residual chlorine concentration is calculated to be 0.036 ppm.

  This number is well below the 1ppm water quality management target value for the residual chlorine concentration of potable water set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, so there is no safety problem. Moreover, since practically all of the residual chlorine is changed to chloride ions in practice, it is well below the 200 ppm standard of tap water quality of chloride ions, and the safety of this embodiment could be confirmed.

  According to the embodiments of the present invention described so far, when washing containers filled with foods and beverages, the surface of the container is wetted with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water by washing and sterilizing with slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water. It has been shown that maintaining it can effectively sterilize and prevent recontamination. Thereby, since filling can be performed without preparing a highly sterile environment, the cost of production equipment can be reduced.

  Moreover, it was shown that the container can be cleaned and sterilized safely by using a slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water as a cleaning sterilizing solution without impairing the quality of the filled product.

  As mentioned above, according to embodiment of this invention demonstrated, the washing | cleaning sterilization method and washing | cleaning sterilization apparatus which prevent the recontamination of a container between a washing | cleaning sterilization process to a filling process can be provided.

  Moreover, the use of this embodiment is not limited to cleaning and sterilization of containers, but can be applied to other articles that may come into contact with the filling. For example, you may use for washing | cleaning sterilization of sealing structures, such as a lid | cover and a stopper for sealing a container. Also in this case, the same effect as that of the container can be obtained by performing the sealing step in the state where the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water remains in the stopper or the like, similarly to the cleaning and sterilization of the container.

  As described above, the present invention has been described with the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and as long as the operations and effects of the present invention are exhibited within the scope of embodiments that can be considered by those skilled in the art. It is included in the scope of the present invention.

10 ... container,
21, 22, 23 ... conveyor,
31, 32 ... spray nozzle,
40 ... Slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water tank,
50 ... pump,
100 ... Cleaning and sterilization equipment

Special table 2014-500830 gazette

Claims (4)

A method for cleaning and sterilizing containers filled with beverages,
Washing and sterilizing the inside of the container by spraying slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water; and
In the washing and sterilizing step, draining the container;
A cleaning and sterilizing method. The step of washing and sterilizing includes the step of spraying the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water onto the outer surface of the container,
The cleaning and sterilizing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of transporting to a filling process area in a state where wetting by the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water remains on the inner surface and the outer surface of the container. The slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is
The cleaning and sterilizing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the effective chlorine concentration is 10 to 80 mg / L and the pH is 5.0 to 6.5. A device for cleaning and sterilizing containers filled with beverages,
Conveying means for placing the container in an inverted posture in which the opening and bottom of the container are reversed;
A spray nozzle for injecting slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water inside the container,
The transporting means drains the slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water when returning the container from the inverted posture to the upright posture,
The slightly acidic hypochlorous acid water is
An effective chlorine concentration is 10 to 80 mg / L and a pH is 5.0 to 6.5.