Abstract: A sensor test apparatus capable of efficiently testing a sensor is provided. A sensor test apparatus 30 which tests the pressure sensor 90 includes an application unit 40 including an application device 42 including a socket 445 to which the sensor 90 is electronically connected, a pressure chamber 43 which applies pressure to the sensor 90, and a heat sink 443,462 which applies a thermal stress to the sensor 90, the test unit 35 which tests the sensor 90 via the socket 445, and the conveying robot 33 which conveys the sensor 90 into and out of the application unit 40.

Abstract: An aseptic filling machine capable of performing molding and filling at the same time that has a compact facility size, requires a reduced initial investment, requires a reduced running cost because of its simplified process, and ensures an aseptic condition with reliability, and an aseptic filling method therefor. An aseptic filling machine includes a pre-heating sterilizing portion that sterilizes a preform, a heating portion that heats the sterilized preform, a molding and filling portion that fills the heated preform with a sterilized content under high pressure, thereby molding the preform into a bottle and at the same time filling the preform with the content, and a sealing portion that seals the bottle filled with the content. Before the aseptic filling machine starts operating, each portion is sterilized. During operation of the aseptic filling machine, aseptic air is supplied to each portion to maintain the aseptic condition.

Abstract: A sterilization process transition method of switching from an SIP process to a product sterilization process in an apparatus including piping that feeds a product into a filling machine through a heating sterilization part. The process sterilizes the piping before a filling operation, and the product sterilization process sterilizes the product to be filled. An F value is calculated from temperature and flowrate data on a fluid flowing in the heating sterilization part that are obtained from temperature sensors and flowmeters disposed in the product filling apparatus at predetermined time intervals. The temperature and flowrate at two or more predetermined positions in the product filling apparatus are adjusted from a set temperature and a set flowrate for the SIP process to a set temperature and a set flowrate for the product sterilization process while preventing the F value from becoming lower than a predetermined value.

Abstract: To simplify management of a sterilization process of a filling nozzle, a method for sterilizing a filling nozzle is provided, hot water or a liquid chemical agent is fed to drink supply piping that feeds a drink to a plurality of filling nozzles at the same time, the hot water or liquid chemical agent is discharged from all the filling nozzles, a flow rate of the hot water or liquid chemical agent is detected at all the filling nozzles, a representative temperature of the hot water or liquid chemical agent upstream or downstream of at least one filling nozzle is measured, and the sterilization process is ended when both the flow rate at each filling nozzle and the representative temperature reach respective target values.

Abstract: A heating apparatus and a heating method for preforms are provided which eliminate poor sterilization of a mouth portion of a preform to which a disinfectant has been blown. A heating section that heats the preform is provided with a mouth portion heating section, and a mouth portion of the preform is heated to a temperature from 50° C. to 70° C.

Abstract: To simply sterilize a blow-molding machine. A mist or gas of hydrogen peroxide or a mixture thereof is introduced through a valve block disposed adjacent to a molding die, thereby sterilizing at least the molding die and an extension rod that extends into the molding die through the valve block.

Abstract: A sterilization process transition method of switching from an SIP process to a product sterilization process in an apparatus including piping that feeds a product into a filling machine through a heating sterilization part. The process sterilizes the piping before a filling operation, and the product sterilization process sterilizes the product to be filled. An F value is calculated from temperature and flowrate data on a fluid flowing in the heating sterilization part that are obtained from temperature sensors and flowmeters disposed in the product filling apparatus at predetermined time intervals. The temperature and flowrate at two or more predetermined positions in the product filling apparatus are adjusted from a set temperature and a set flowrate for the SIP process to a set temperature and a set flowrate for the product sterilization process while preventing the F value from becoming lower than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A culturing apparatus (10) is an apparatus for culturing a culture medium with which an airtight container (35) is filled. Such a culturing apparatus (10) is provided with a container holding unit (12) that holds the airtight container (35) and a motion imparting unit (15) that imparts physical motions from the outside of the airtight container (35) to the airtight container (35) held on the container holding unit (12).

Abstract: A device capable of stably obtaining gas of a sterilizer containing hydrogen peroxide for a long time is provided. A cleaning device that cleans a heating surface that gasifies a sterilizer of a gasifier for a sterilizer is provided, and after an operation for a fixed time period, the heating surface is cleaned.

Abstract: A method of decontaminating an aseptic filling apparatus that includes stations including a content filling station arranged from an upstream side to a downstream side of a flow of a preform or container, and each of the stations is covered by a chamber. The method includes sterilizing the content filling station by performing a CIP and then an SIP or performing an SIP serving also as a CIP of the content filling station, removing a cleaning liquid used in the CIP or SIP, and performing a COP and/or an SOP of the various kinds of stations in a predetermined order. A first SOP using a first sterilizer and a second SOP using a second sterilizer are performed stepwise on the various kinds of stations while the CIP and the SIP or the SIP serving also as the CIP are being performed on the content filling station.

Abstract: To simplify management of a sterilization process of a filling nozzle, a method for sterilizing a filling nozzle is provided. In the method for sterilizing a filling nozzle, hot water or a liquid chemical agent is fed to drink supply piping that feeds a drink to a plurality of filling nozzles at the same time, the hot water or liquid chemical agent is discharged from all the filling nozzles, a flow rate of the hot water or liquid chemical agent is detected at all the filling nozzles, a representative temperature of the hot water or liquid chemical agent upstream or downstream of at least one filling nozzle is measured, and the sterilization process is ended when both the flow rate at each filling nozzle and the representative temperature reach respective target values.

Abstract: To simply sterilize a blow-molding machine. A mist or gas of hydrogen peroxide or a mixture thereof is introduced through a valve block disposed adjacent to a molding die, thereby sterilizing at least the molding die and an extension rod that extends into the molding die through the valve block.

Abstract: A preform (31) is sterilized by a preform sterilizer (11). The preform (31) is blow-molded by a blow-molding device (13) to manufacture a container (30). Next, the container (30) is filled with a culture medium by a filling device (20) without sterilizing the container (30) by a container sterilizer (15), and the container (30) is plugged by a plugging device (21). Thereafter, it is verified how much microorganism survive or propagate in the culture medium in the container (30). A degree of sterilization in the container sterilizer (15) is adjusted on the basis of a verification result.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a photosensitive drum, a lever, and an electrical connector. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction, a memory storing information related to the developing cartridge, and an electrical contact electrically connected to the memory. The photosensitive drum is rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction. The lever moves the developing cartridge between a first position where a surface of the developing roller contacts a surface of the photosensitive drum and a second position where the surface of the developing roller separates from the surface of the photosensitive drum. The electrical connector contacts the electrical contact in the second position of the developing cartridge, and separates from the electrical contact in the first position of the developing cartridge.

Abstract: A beverage aseptic filling system (10) for both a carbonated beverage and a non-carbonated beverage includes a raw material liquid preparation unit (46) that prepares a raw material liquid, a beverage sterilization unit (41) that sterilizes a beverage, a beverage filling unit (20) that fills a container (30) with a beverage, and a switching valve (47) provided between the beverage sterilization unit (41) and the beverage filling unit (20). A first filling line (50A) is provided between the switching valve (47) and the beverage filling unit (20), and the switching valve (47) is connected to a second filling line (50B), in which a beverage cooling unit (43) for cooling a beverage and a carbonated beverage production unit (44) for injecting carbon dioxide gas into a beverage are disposed. The switching valve (47) supplies a beverage to either one of the first filling line (50A) and the second filling line (50B) selectively.

Abstract: A sterile carbonated beverage filling system includes a beverage sterilizing section which sterilizes a raw material liquid to prepare a sterilized beverage, a beverage cooling section which cools the sterilized beverage, a carbonated beverage producing section which injects carbonic acid gas into the sterilized beverage to prepare a sterile carbonated beverage, and a carbonated beverage filling section which fills the sterile carbonated beverage into a bottle. The beverage sterilizing section, the beverage cooling section, the carbonated beverage producing section, and the carbonated beverage filling section are connected by a beverage supply pipeline. The carbonated beverage filling section and the beverage supply pipeline each include a rotary machine, and a boundary surface between a rotating body and a non-rotating body of the rotary machine is sealed with sterile water or sterile air.

Abstract: A cap sterilizer (50) includes an infeed chamber (52), a sterilant atomizing chamber (53), and an air rinse chamber (54). At least the infeed chamber (52) and the air rinse chamber (54) are exhausted. Both an exhaust pressure (E2) in the infeed chamber (52) and an exhaust pressure (E4) in the air rinse chamber are higher than an exhaust pressure (E3) in the sterilant atomizing chamber (53), or the sterilant atomizing chamber (53) is not exhausted.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing a bottle includes steps of: sterilizing bacteria adhering to a preform (1) made of resin by gasifying a sterilizer, discharging a sterilized gas (G) from a nozzle (6) toward a preform, now traveling, so as to adhere to the preform (1); activating the sterilizer adhering to the preform by blasting hot air (P) to the preform; sterilizing the bacteria adhering to the preform, and removing the sterilizer adhering to the preform (1); heating the preform to a temperature suitable for blow-molding treatment; and blow-molding the preform within a mold (4) to mold the preform into a bottle (2), wherein the above steps are performed sequentially in order. According to the above-mentioned steps, the sterilizer does not enter a blow-molding machine.

Abstract: It is possible to shorten a time before starting a drink filling working and a time for manufacturing a product.

Abstract: A heating apparatus and heating method for preforms that heat a sterilized preform to a temperature at which the preform can be molded into a bottle in an aseptic atmosphere. Additionally, an aseptic blow molding machine and an aseptic blow molding method that can mold the sterilized preform into a bottle in the aseptic atmosphere, and can take out the bottle from a bottle molding machine in a state where the sterility of the bottle is maintained. A chamber covering a heating unit that heats the preform is provided, and a sterilizing apparatus that sterilizes the inside of the chamber, and an aseptic air supplying apparatus for maintaining the sterility are provided. Additionally, a chamber covering a molding unit that molds the preform into a bottle is provided, a sterilizing apparatus that sterilizes the inside of the chamber, and an aseptic air supplying apparatus for maintaining the sterility are provided.