STERILIZING AND ASEPSIS-MAINTAINING METHOD IN CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE, CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE CAPABLE OF BEING STERILIZED AND MAINTAINING ASEPSIS, METHOD FOR PREVENTING CONTAMINATION AROUND SPINDLE IN CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE, AND CONTAINER CLOSING MACHINE CAPABLE OF PREVENTING CONTAMINATION AROUND SPINDLE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently sterilize a gap communicating with a closing work space around a seaming spindle and efficiently prevent the gap from being contaminated by the propagation or the like of micro-organisms, in a container closing machine for clamping a lid-closing member to a mouth of a container to seal the mouth thereof. SOLUTION: An intermediate chamber 28 formed between a center column 2 and a revolving disc 27 communicates with a gap upper portion 20 and a gap lower portion 32, which are formed between the center column 2 and a seaming spindle 4. A sterilizing agent supplied from the external side to the intermediate chamber 28 sterilizes the gap lower portion 32 and flows into a seaming work chamber 14 which is sterilized by a sterilizing agent spray 44. After sterilization, aseptic air fed to the seaming work chamber 14 flows into the intermediate chamber 28. A lubricating oil, after lubricating a bearing 12 and leaking from an oil seal 15, is recovered to the intermediate chamber 28 from the gap lower portion 32 and is discharged together with the aseptic air. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO