JPH0242964A - How to sterilize packaged food - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a sterilization method for heating and sterilizing food stored in a packaging container so that it can be stored for a long period of time.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, foods such as processed grains (raw or boiled udon, spaghetti, even cooked rice, etc.) have been heat sterilized to increase their preservability and extend their shelf life.

Sealed heat sterilization called the retort method is known as one method of heat sterilization, but in tray-type containers, residual air is unavoidable, and this residual air expands inside the container when heated. Therefore, there are problems in that the container may be deformed or the seal may be defective. Furthermore, since the retort method processes grains at a relatively high temperature, there is a problem in that processed grains may undergo deterioration and deteriorate food quality.

Therefore, it is difficult to perform retort heat sterilization on tray-type containers. For this reason, a method has been proposed in which a hole is formed in a part of the tray-type container (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 108279/1983).
A container with a through hole is heated to sterilize while expelling residual air through the hole, and then the through hole is sealed in a sterile state.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, even with the conventional method of providing a through hole, when heating steam sterilization is performed using a steamer or the like, residual air inside the container causes heated steam to be sent into the container. There is a problem in that the heating steam and the food do not come into smooth contact with each other, and the food cannot be sterilized by heating properly.

Additionally, the sealing of the through holes should be done in a sterile room.
It is difficult to expect complete sterility in food manufacturing processes.

There is a problem in that when the inside of the container is cooled (by air cooling, etc.), cold air from outside the container is drawn in, which may contaminate the sterilized food.

The basic purpose of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilization method that can perform heated gas sterilization reliably and efficiently.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the packaged food sterilization method of the present invention provides a method for sterilizing packaged foods in which a packaging container in which food is stored is provided with an inlet port and a discharge port. The container is sealed except for the inlet and the outlet, the heated gas is forcibly introduced through the inlet, the gas inside the container is discharged from the outlet, and then the container is filled with the heated gas before being sent. It is characterized by blocking the inlet and outlet.

The food is not particularly limited as long as it can be subjected to heated gas sterilization, but raw or boiled udon noodles, spaghetti, cooked rice, etc. are suitable.

In addition, examples of packaging containers for storing this food include, but are not limited to, synthetic resin bags and tray containers. However, since it comes into contact with heated gas, it is desirable that it has excellent heat resistance.

As the heated gas, heated air can be used in addition to heated steam, and humidity-controlled heated air prepared by adding an appropriate amount of moisture to air can also be used.

Next, the inlet and outlet provided in the container can be configured with separately formed small holes (gaps), or can be configured with one small hole. When configured with one small hole, The small holes may be partially allocated to the inlet and the outlet by means of a means for forcibly injecting heated gas, which will be described later.Furthermore, the inlet and the outlet can be formed into tubular shapes.

In addition to preparing this pipe for the inlet and outlet,
It is also possible to use one tube in duplicate.

Next, as the means for forcibly feeding the heated gas, it is possible to adopt a method in which a heated gas jet nozzle or the like is placed facing the inlet or directly inserted, and the heated gas is sent from the jet nozzle. Furthermore, when the inlet port itself is tubular, it is also possible to send heated gas by connecting a jet nozzle to this tube. Note that the gas in the air can be discharged by natural exhaust that is performed as the heated gas is introduced, but it is also possible to discharge the gas by suctioning the air from the discharge port.

The inside of the container is filled with heated gas by the forced introduction of heated gas, and after a predetermined period of time, the inlet and outlet in the subsequent process are closed in this filled state, and
It is desirable to perform this closing while supplying heated gas. However, as long as the container is maintained in a full state, it is possible to carry out the closing operation even after supplying heated gas.

Moreover, although both the inlet and the outlet can be closed at the same time, it is also possible to close each in turn. However, in order to ensure that the container is filled with heated gas, it is desirable to close the outlet first.

The above-mentioned inlet and outlet are closed by thermal welding or the like.

For example, when a nozzle is introduced into the inlet to send heated gas, the nozzle is closed after being removed. Further, when the nozzle is placed facing the inlet, the nozzle can be closed while injecting heated gas, or it can be closed after the injection is stopped.

Furthermore, when the inlet and the outlet are tubular, the inlet and the outlet can be closed while feeding the heated gas, and then the excess tube can be cut and removed. Alternatively, the buttock can be cut and removed first, and then the inlet and outlet can be closed.

(Function) That is, according to the present invention, the heated gas is reliably introduced into the container by forcibly introducing the heated gas from the inlet provided in the container. On the other hand, the air inside the container is discharged to the outside of the container through the outlet, and the heated gas can be smoothly introduced into the container. Therefore, the heated gas efficiently contacts the stored food, and heat sterilization is efficiently performed.

Next, since the inlet and outlet are closed while the container is filled with heated gas, cold air from outside the container does not flow into the container, preventing recontamination and ensuring sterilization. .

(Example 1) An example of the present invention will be described below based on the accompanying drawings.

A tray-shaped packaging container 1 contains boiled spaghetti 2 that has been acid-adjusted to suppress heat-resistant bacteria. The remaining parts are heat welded.

The packaging containers 1 are sequentially transferred onto a rotary table 6 which has an annular shape and rotates through a carry-in #17, and are arranged at a constant interval from each other. An annular heated steam supply pipe 8 that rotates in synchronization with the rotary table 6 is disposed at a concentric position on the inner circumference of the rotary table 6. A steam generator is connected.

Further, on the outer periphery of the heated steam supply pipe 8, there are nozzles 9...
9 are provided protrudingly, and each nozzle 9 is positioned at the same angular interval as the packaging container 1 placed on the rotating table 6. Also,
A delivery path 10 is connected to the rotary table 6, and a thermal welding device 11 is disposed at the entrance of the delivery path 1i'810.

Note that the rotary table 6 and the heated steam supply pipe 8 are covered with a cylindrical cover 12 to prevent leakage of heated steam from affecting the surrounding environment.

Next, a method according to an embodiment using the above apparatus will be explained.

Packaging containers 1 with small gaps 4 aligned on one side are arranged at predetermined intervals on the carry-in path 7, and are being transported toward the rotating table 6. At the tip of the carry-in path 7, the packaging container 1 is transferred to the rotating table 6, and as the rotating table 6 and the heated steam supply pipe 8 rotate, the nozzle 9 is inserted into the small gap 4.

Next, the heated steam generated by a heated steam generating means (not shown) is passed through the heated steam supply pipe 8 to the nozzle 9...
9 and are fed into the packaging container 1 into which each nozzle 9 is inserted. On the other hand, packaging container 1
The air inside passes through the outlet 4a and is discharged to the outside of the container 1. Therefore, the inside of the container is quickly filled with heated steam, and heat sterilization is efficiently performed.

In this way, while rotating the rotary table 6 and the heated steam supply pipe 8, the packaging container 1, which moves together with the rotary table 6 which performs heated steam sterilization for a predetermined period of time, is transferred to the unloading path 10 and the nozzle 9 is moved. is extracted, and immediately after that, the small gap 4 is thermally welded by the thermal welding device 11 while the inside of the container 1 is filled with heated steam.

In addition, heat welding equipment! As the welding device 11, for example, one having a structure in which the object to be welded is sandwiched between heating rollers and heat welded is used.

The packaging containers 1 sealed as described above are sequentially taken out to the carry-out path 10. This operation is performed continuously, and as the packaging containers 1 are sent into the carry-in path 7, the heat-sterilized packaging containers 1 are continuously sent out from the carry-out path 10.

In this embodiment, a small gap 4 was provided between the packaging container 1 and the plastic film 3, and the inlet and outlet were assigned to this small gap, but two gaps were provided separately,
It is also possible to assign each to an inlet and an outlet.

(Example 2) Next, a second example will be described based on FIGS. 3 and 4.

Inside the tray-shaped packaging container 20, as in the previous embodiment,
Boiled spaghetti 21 is stored, and the edge of the container is covered with a plastic film 22.

Further, a wax-shaped tube 24 is pushed through between the packaging container 20 and the plastic film 22.
The plastic film 22 and the upper end of the container 20 are thermally welded except for.

The packaging containers 20...20 are sequentially transported on a belt conveyor 25 at predetermined intervals.

On the other hand, heating steam supply devices 26...26 are arranged at predetermined intervals on the side of the belt conveyor 25.
It has a heated steam feed nozzle 27 directed toward the belt conveyor 25. The packaging container 20 on the belt conveyor 25 is
As the belt conveyor 25 moves, it moves in the direction A in the figure, and the heated steam from the nozzle 27 is directed to the container 20 in a state where the nozzle 27 that continuously injects heated steam and the pipe 24 face each other.
sent within. On the other hand, the air inside the container is discharged to the outside through the peripheral edge of the tube 24, and heated steam is efficiently sent into the container 20. The packaging container 20 is further moved by the belt conveyor 25 to the next heated steam supply device 26.
Subsequently, heated steam is sent into the container 20.

After the container 20 has been heat sterilized for a predetermined period of time in this manner, the pipe 24 is crushed by a welding device 28 at the front and the unwelded portion is thermally welded.
9, the remaining tube protruding outward from the container 20 is cut and removed.

Note that the above-described device group is covered with a cover 30,
This prevents the heated steam used for heat sterilization from spreading to the surrounding area. By actively creating a heated steam atmosphere inside the cover 30 in this manner, there is also the effect that re-contamination within the container 20 can be more reliably prevented before the unwelded portion is closed.

In the above embodiment, the heated steam is continuously injected from the nozzle 27, but it is also possible to inject the heated steam intermittently according to the approach or separation of the containers 20.

Further, although welding of the unwelded parts of the container 20 was performed in front of the final heated steam supply device 26, it is also possible to perform the welding while the final heated steam supply device 26 is feeding heated steam. .

(Embodiment 3) Next, FIG. 5 shows a double pipe 31 instead of the pipe 24 of the previous embodiment.
is provided in the packaging container 32, for example, the inner tube 31a
is used as an inlet, and the outer tube 31b is used as an outlet. To feed the heated steam, a heated steam inlet nozzle 33 is brought into contact with the inner tube 31a, and while the heated steam is injected through the nozzle 33, the inside of the container 32 is evacuated through the outer tube 31b.

Thereafter, the double pipe 31 is closed and cut in the same manner as in the embodiment described above. In this case as well, the supply of heated steam can be stopped at any time after TtI of the closing operation.

In this embodiment, the outer tube 31b is left open, but for example, the nozzle 33 is made into a double tube, and heated steam is supplied only through the inner tube, so that the outer tube and the outer tube 31b are connected. It is also possible to connect them for exhaust.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, the packaging container in which the food is stored is provided with an inlet and an outlet, respectively, and the container is removed by removing the inlet and the outlet. The packaging container is sealed, forcedly injects heated gas through the inlet, exhausts the gas inside the container through the outlet, and then closes the inlet and outlet with the container filled with heated gas. This has the effect of ensuring that heated gas is sent inside the room reliably and efficiently, and heat sterilization can be carried out quickly. Furthermore, since the inlet and the outlet are closed with the container filled with heated gas, the packaging container can be sealed tightly without the risk of re-contamination.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging container used in the method of one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the sterilizer, and Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the packaging container used in the method of another embodiment. 4 is a schematic plan view of the sterilizer, and FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of a packaging container used in another embodiment. 1... Packaging container 2... Boiled spaghetti 3.
・Plastic film 4 ・Small gap 4a ・Exhaust port 8 ・Heated steam supply pipe 9 ・Nozzle 11 ・Thermal welding device 20 ・
...Packaging container 21...Boiled spaghetti 22.
...Plastic film 24...Double tube 25...Belt conveyor 2
6...Heating steam supply device 27...Nozzle 28...Welding device 29...
- Cutting device 31...double pipe 32...packaging container opening

Claims (1)

[Claims] A packaging container in which food is stored is provided with an inlet and an outlet, and the container is sealed except for the inlet and outlet, and heated gas is forcibly introduced through the inlet and exhausted. A method for sterilizing packaged foods, which comprises discharging the gas inside the container from the outlet, and then closing the inlet and outlet while filling the container with heated gas.