Method and apparatus for cleaning filler

Abstract

At least one of COP and SOP treatments is performed by spraying a predetermined working fluid from spray nozzles within an aseptic chamber accommodated with a filler in a predetermined order, when such at least one of the COP and SOP treatments is performed, the predetermined working fluid is blasted toward externally of the filler in the predetermined order while moving a movable spray nozzle opposing to the filler around the filler from an outer periphery thereof, thus performing the filler cleaning operation. Accordingly, downtime at the drink filling working can be reduced.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a drink filler, wherein SOP (Sterilizing out of Place) treatments are performed by spraying a predetermined working fluid from fixed-type spray nozzles and movable-type spray nozzles, the movable-type spray nozzles being disposed to be movable in a vertical direction within an aseptic chamber containing the filler, the fixed-type spray nozzles being fixed to predetermined portions inside the aseptic chamber and the movable-type spray nozzles being disposed, at a predetermined pitch, inside of a circular pipe so as to surround the filler, the circular pipe being coupled with a movable rod connected to an air cylinder, which moves the rod in the vertical direction, wherein when SOP treatments are performed, the predetermined working fluid is blasted toward an outer surface of the filler from the fixed-type spray nozzles and the movable-type spray nozzles, such that the movable-type spray nozzles blast the predetermined working fluid while moving in the vertical direction; and when the SOP treatments are performed, performing simultaneously, in parallel, SIP (Sterilizing in Place) treatments on a drink supplying pipe line that is configured to supply drink to the filler, wherein the SIP treatments are performed while turning motion of the filler is stopped such that the filler is static, and wherein the SIP treatments comprise flowing a predetermined liquid through the drink supplying pipe line.

2. An apparatus for cleaning a filler, wherein the apparatus comprises fixed-type spray nozzles and movable-type spray nozzles, the movable-type spray nozzles being disposed to be movable in a vertical direction within an aseptic chamber containing the filler, wherein the fixed-type spray nozzles and the movable-type spray nozzles are provided for performing SOP (Sterilizing out of Place) treatments by spraying a predetermined working fluid within the aseptic chamber containing the filler, the fixed-type spray nozzles being fixed to predetermined positions inside the aseptic chamber and the movable-type spray nozzles being disposed, at a predetermined pitch, inside of a circular pipe so as to surround the filler, the circular pipe being coupled with a movable rod connected to an air cylinder, which moves the rod in the vertical direction, such that the movable-type spray nozzles are configured to blast the predetermined working fluid while moving in the vertical direction; and wherein the apparatus is configured to perform simultaneously, in parallel to performing the SOP treatments, SIP (Sterilizing in Place) treatments on a drink supplying pipe line configured to supply drink to the filler, wherein the SIP treatments are performed while turning motion of the filler is stopped such that the filler is static, and wherein the apparatus comprises a cup that can selectively be moved adjacent to a filler nozzle of the filler such that SIP liquid flowed through the drink supplying pipe line can be received by the cup and exhausted through a return pipe line directly connected to the cup.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a filler and an aseptic chamber to be cleaned by the cleaning method according to the present invention, in which a left half shows a state of a drink filling process and a right half shows a state during cleaning treatment or sterilizing treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(2) An embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(3) A drink supplying pipe line 2 for supplying drink to a filler 1 shown in FIG. 1 from a drink preparation tank, not shown, is provided for an aseptic filling system. In FIG. 1, reference 3 denotes a surge tank provided on the way of the drink supply pipe line.

(4) The aseptic filling system is also provided with a bottle conveying path for conveying or delivering a bottle b, as a container to be filled with the drink, to the filler 1, and conveying the bottle b filled up with the drink to a capper, not shown, by the filler 1. The conveying path is generally composed of a number wheel rows and grippers 4 and others disposed around the respective wheels.

(5) The filler 1 is a filling machine for filling a number of bottles b with the drink at a high speed, and as shown in FIG. 1, is provided with a wheel 5 constituting a part of the bottle conveying path. The wheel 5 is mounted to a portion as a turning shaft 6a in a support shaft 6 vertically standing from a floor surface of the aseptic filling system. Grippers 4, each for gripping a neck portion of the bottle b, are arranged at constant pitch around the wheel 5. The grippers 4 are capable of being turned in one direction together with the wheel 5. Furthermore, a number of filling nozzles 7 arranged at the same pitch as that of the grippers 4 are also arranged around the wheel 5.

(6) An upper portion of the support shaft 6 for stopping the turning motion is fixed to a machine frame of the filler 1, and a rotary joint 6b is disposed between the upper portion of the support shaft 6 and the turning shaft portion 6a. An upper manifold 8 is further provided to the turning shaft portion 6a below the rotary joint 6b. The support shaft 6 has a hollow portion extending from the upper portion of the support shaft 6 to the upper manifold 8, and the drink supply pipe line 2 is coupled with the upper portion of the support shat 6. The drink supply pipe line 2 extends to the respective filling nozzles 7 from the upper manifold 8.

(7) When the filler 1 is driven, the wheel 5 is rotated at high speed, and the bottles b gripped by the grippers 4 are conveyed on the conveying path in synchronism with the rotating motion of the wheel 5. During this conveyance, when the bottles b are moved directly below the nozzle openings 7a of the corresponding filling nozzles 7, the bottles b are subsequently filled with the constant amount of the drink respectively.

(8) The filler 1 is accommodated entirely within the aseptic chamber 9, as shown in FIG. 1, so as to fill the bottle b, which has been subjected to the sterilizing treatment, with the sterilized drink to prevent foreign substance such as bacteria from entering the bottle b. The aseptic chamber 9 is provided with an inlet port and an outlet port at its upstream side and downstream side though not shown in FIG. 1.

(9) As described above, the drink is supplied from the drink preparation apparatus toward the filling nozzles 7 of the filler 1 by way of the drink supply pipe line 2, the inside of which is subjected to the CIP and SIP treatments periodically or every time of changing the kind of drinks.

(10) The CIP treatment is performed by flowing a working liquid for cleaning such as water, alkaline cleaning agent, acidic cleaning agent or like inside the drink supply pipe line 2 in accordance with the predetermined procedure. Further, the SIP treatment is also performed by flowing a working liquid for sterilization such as sterilizing liquid, heated water, steam or like inside the drink supply pipe line 2.

(11) In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a reservoir (storage) tank as a supply source of a working liquid such as cleaning liquid or sterilizing liquid. Reference numeral 11 denotes a liquid feed pump. Although a plurality of reservoir tanks 10 may be provided in conformity with the kinds of predetermined working fluids, only one is described on FIG. 1 for the sake of convenience of drawing the FIGURE, and a supply source for the working liquid for the sterilization, for example, is omitted for showing in FIG. 1. Furthermore, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 denotes a supply pipe line from the reservoir tank 10 to the surge tank 3, and reference numeral 13 denotes a return pipe line from each filling nozzle 7 to the reservoir tank 10. The supply pipe line 12 and the return pipe line 13 constitute a circulation path line together with the drink supply pipe line for the cleaning liquid and the like.

(12) The return pipe line 13 has a starting terminal end to which a cup 14 is provided to be capable of approaching or separating from the nozzle opening 7a of each filling nozzle 7. When the CIP and SIP treatments are performed, each cup 14 is applied, by an actuator, not shown, to the nozzle opening 7a formed to the front end of the corresponding filling nozzle 7, and hence, the starting terminal end of the return pipe line 13 is connected to the filling nozzle opening 7a. The respective cups 14 are coupled with a lower manifold 15 by flexible pipes forming a part of the return pipe line 13. The lower manifold 15 is mounted to the turning shaft 6a of the filler 1 to be turnable together with the wheel 5, the filling nozzles 7 and so on.

(13) A joint 16 is provided to a portion at which the return pipe line 13 extends from the lower manifold 15 to the reservoir tank 10 in a manner of being connected or disconnected. This joint 16 is connected at the time when the CIP and SIP treatments are performed, and at such time, the wheel 5 and the filling nozzles 7 are not turnable. Upon the completion of the CIP and SIP treatments, since the joint 16 is disconnected, the wheel 5 and the filling nozzles 7 become turnable.

(14) As like as the CIP treatment and the SIP treatment performed to the inside of the drink supply pipe line 2, the inside of the aseptic chamber 9 is also subjected to the COP treatment and the SOP treatment for cleaning.

(15) The COP and SOP treatments are performed by spraying a predetermined working liquid such as chemical liquid such as hydrogen peroxide, aseptic water and like liquid in order into the aseptic chamber 9 in form of spray or shower.

(16) In FIG. 1, reference numerals 17a and 17b denotes spray nozzles, respectively, disposed to various portions between the inner wall surface of the aseptic chamber 9 and the outer surface of the filler 1.

(17) The spray nozzles 17a are fixed-type spray nozzles fixed to predetermined portions inside the aseptic chamber 9, and the spray nozzles 17b are movable-type nozzles disposed to be movable in the vertical direction.

(18) As shown in FIG. 1, a number of the movable spray nozzles 17b are disposed, at a predetermined pitch, to the inside of a circular pipe 18 provided so as to surround the filler 1 from the outer side thereof. Such circular pipe provided with the movable spray nozzles may be provided in plural stages, and in a desirable layout, the movable spray nozzles 17b are arranged so as to face the filling nozzles 7, respectively.

(19) The circular pipe 18 is supported by movable means to be vertically reciprocally movable along the outer periphery of the filler when this movable means is driven. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the circular pipe 18 is coupled with a rod 19a of an air-cylinder device 19, as an actuator, perpendicularly fixed to the machine frame of the filler 1 or the wall portion of the aseptic chamber 9. In a preferred layout, the air-cylinder device 19 is fixed to an external portion of the ceiling of the aseptic chamber 9 so that the rod 19a projects inside the aseptic chamber 9. Because of such arrangement, a portion between the inner wall surface of the aseptic chamber 9 and the rod 19a is shut off by a bellows in order to prevent outer air from entering the interior of the aseptic chamber 9. In FIG. 1, although only two air-cylinder devices 19 are illustrated, it may be possible to locate three or more air-cylinders.

(20) Reference numeral 21 denotes a reservoir (storage) tank as a supply source for a predetermined working liquid such as alkaline cleaning agent, acetyl hydroperoxide cleaning agent, chemical solution of hydrogen peroxide water, aseptic water or the like. Although a plurality of such reservoir tanks 21 are provided for respective chemical solutions such as hydrogen peroxide water or the like and the aseptic water or the like, only one thereof is shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of convenience. Furthermore, reference numeral 22 denotes a supply pipe line extending from each reservoir tank 21 to each fixed spray nozzle 17a, and reference numeral 23 denotes a flexible supply pipe line extending from each reservoir tank 21 to each movable spray nozzle 17b. More specifically, the flexible supply pipe line 23 is connected to the circular pipe 18. Pumps 24 are provided for the supply pipe lines 22 and 23, respectively.

(21) During the CIP treatment or SOP treatment, the rod 19a of the air-cylinder device 19 performs the reciprocal motion in the vertical direction along the outer periphery of the filler 1 together with the circular pipe 18. At the same time, the chemical solution for the CIP and SOP treatments and the predetermined working fluid such as aseptic water are sprayed outward of the filler 1 by means of the movable spray nozzles 17b in accordance with the predetermined order to thereby spray the chemical solution or like to the outer surface of the filler 1 to clean up foreign substance from the outer surface of the filler 1.

(22) Incidentally, the process of the circular pipe 18 may be set so as to follow the outer surfaces of the filling nozzles 7 of the filler 1 in the vertical direction. According to such setting, the filling nozzles each having a complicated shape and configuration or structure can be more surely and closely cleaned and sterilized.

(23) Next, the cleaning working by the cleaning device of the filler of the structure mentioned above will be described.

(24) (1) Upon the stopping of the operation of the filler 1, the turning motions of the filling nozzles 7 and so on are then stopped to take static positions, and the surge tank 3 is made empty.

(25) (2) As shown on right half of FIG. 1, the opening (mouth) portion 7a of each of the filling nozzles 7 is closed by the cup 14. The joint 16 is then connected. Accordingly, the circulation path line for flowing the predetermined working fluid or solution such as cleaning liquid, sterilizing liquid and the like at the time of performing the CIP and SIP treatments.

(26) (3) When the CIP treatment is started, the alkaline cleaning agent and the predetermined working fluid such as water are delivered from the reservoir tank 10 by means of pump 11 in accordance with the predetermined order. The cleaning liquid and the like flows from the reservoir tank 10 to the surge tank 3 through the supply pipe line 12, then flows into the upper manifold 8 through the drink supply pipe line 2 and then to the respective filling nozzles 7, and thereafter, flows to return to the reservoir tank 10 through the return pipe line 13. According to such flowing, the cleaning liquid and the like flows within the circulation path for the predetermined time according to the predetermined order, thereby cleaning the interior of the drink supply pipe line 2 including the interior of the filling nozzles 7.

(27) (4) After the completion of the CIP treatment, the SIP treatment is started, and a predetermined working fluid such as heated water or heated steam flows in the circulation path mentioned above for the predetermined time, thereby sterilizing the interior of the drink supply pipe line 2 including the interior of the filling nozzles 7.

(28) (5) At the same time when the CIP treatment and the SIP treatment mentioned above are performed, the COP treatment and the SOP treatment are performed, in parallel to the above treatments, to the interior of the aseptic chamber 9.

(29) The COP and SOP treatments are performed by delivering the predetermined working fluid such as cleaning liquid, sterilizing liquid and the like from each of the respective reservoir tanks 21 in accordance with the predetermined order by means of pump 24. The cleaning liquid and the like are sprayed in form of mist or shower from the fixed spray nozzles 17a and movable spray nozzles 17b through the supply pipe lines 22 and 23 and then blasted to the outer surface of the filler 1 and the like within the aseptic chamber 9.

(30) Further, the movable spray nozzle 17b blasts the cleaning liquid, the sterilizing liquid and the like toward the exterior of the filler 1 in the predetermined order while moving reciprocally in the vertical direction together with the circular pipe 18 by the actuation of the air-cylinder device 19. According to this operation, the outer surface of the filler 1, particularly, the outer surfaces of the filling nozzles 7 having complicated shape and configuration can be cleaned and sterilized with improved accuracy.

(31) Furthermore, since the COP and SOP treatments are performed in parallel with the CIP and SIP treatments, the downtime of the aseptic filling system including the filler 1 can be shortened and the productivity for filling the container with drink can be improved.

(32) Further, the COP and SOP treatment to the interior of the aseptic chamber 9 may be performed after the CIP and SIP treatments have been performed. In such case, it is preferred to perform the COP and SOP treatments during the turning motion of the filler 1 after the disconnection of the joint 16. By blasting the cleaning liquid and the sterilizing liquid during the time of turning the filler 1 together with the filling nozzles 7 at high speed, the cleaning effect and the sterilizing effect can be enhanced.

(33) (6) After the completion of the CIP, SIP, COP and SOP treatments, the joint 16 connected for the CIP and SIP treatments is disconnected, and then, as shown in the left half of FIG. 1, the cups 14 are removed from the nozzle openings 7a of the respective filling nozzles 7.

(34) (7) Then, the drink filling working starts. The drink is prepared by the preparation device, not shown, and the drink subjected to the sterilizing treatment is fed to the interior of the filler 1 through the cleaned surge tank 3 and the drink supply pipe line 2, and fills the bottles b as containers through the respective filing nozzles 7 of the filler 1.

(35) The bottle b filled up with the drink is transferred from the gripper 4 on the side of the wheel 5 of the filler 1 to a gripper on the side of the wheel of a capper, not shown, and then, the opening (mouth) portion of the bottle b is closed with the sterilized cap by the capper and discharged outward of the aseptic filing system.

(36) It is to be noted that although the present invention has the structure as described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiment, and many other changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention.

(37) For example, the movable filling nozzle of the structure described above may be disposed so as to stand upward from the floor side of the aseptic filling system. Furthermore, the chamber is not limited to have an aseptic structure, and may be constructed to have a shroud structure such as utilized for a clean room. The container is not limited to a bottle, and a paper container may be alternatively used.

(38) Furthermore, when both the CIP and SIP treatments are performed for the drink supply pipe line, although both the COP and SOP treatments are performed in the described embodiment for the interior of the aseptic chamber, it may be possible to perform the COP treatment at the time of performing the CIP treatment, to perform the SOP treatment at the time of performing the CIP treatment, to perform the COP treatment at the time of performing the SIP treatment, to perform the SOP treatment at the time of performing the SIP treatment, to perform both the COP and SOP treatments at the time of performing the CIP treatment, to perform the COP treatment at the time of performing the SIP treatment, to perform the SOP treatment at the time of performing the SIP treatment, to perform both the COP and SOP treatments at the time of performing the SIP treatment, to perform the COP treatment at the time of performing both the CIP and SIP treatments, and to perform the SOP treatment at the time of performing both the CIP and SIP treatments.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(39) 1 filler 2 drink supply pipe line 7 filling nozzle 9 aseptic chamber 17a fixed spray nozzle 17b movable spray nozzle 19 air-cylinder device b bottle