JP2000325058A - Heating method and heating device for closely packed article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a device for heating closely packed articles enclosed in packaging containers characterized in that, when plural closely packed articles are heated, the differences among individual heat treatments of the closely packed articles are made small, and heating treatments are homogeneously applicable on all closely packed articles, respectively. SOLUTION: Plural storage cases 71 for a closely packed article which can store one closely packed article enclosed in a packaging container are arranged on a case-rotation shaft line 70, or at least one storage case 71 is arranged on each of at least two case-rotation shaft lines 70C. A closely packed article B is stored in the storage case 71, and the closely packed article B in the storage case is heated from the outside of the storage case while the storage case 71 is allowed to rotate centering the case-rotation shaft line 70C.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for heating a sealed packaged article enclosed in a packaging container, and to a device for heating a sealed packaged article used for carrying out the heating method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, many articles such as foods and pharmaceuticals are enclosed in packaging containers and distributed in the form of sealed packaging articles. Among such sealed packaged articles, for example, for sealed packaged food, there is a product that is cooked in a sealed package and then shipped, and the sealed packaged food is manufactured, stored, and distributed by a manufacturer. Until the food can be eaten, rot, deterioration, discoloration, taste change, etc. must not be caused by bacteria that may be contaminated.

[0003] A hermetically sealed packaged product may be subjected to heat sterilization for the purpose of killing various bacteria, viruses and the like which have an adverse effect on the human body. Heretofore, such heat treatment of hermetically sealed packaged articles has generally been performed using a heat treatment pot having pressure resistance. That is, a plurality of sealed packaged articles are housed in the heat treatment kettle, high-pressure steam or hot water at a predetermined temperature is introduced into the pot, and exposed for a predetermined time.
Alternatively, a plurality of hermetically sealed packaged articles are accommodated in a processing pot, and a microwave for heating the sealed packaged articles is introduced into the pot, and the inside of the processing pot is pressurized with a saturated vapor pressure or higher with respect to the sealed packaging article processing temperature. You do it.

However, in such a heat treatment, the individual articles are heated in a state where they are stationary at a fixed position in the processing tank. It is difficult to heat each part uniformly. In order to solve such a problem, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
As taught in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-9162, it is conceivable to heat a sealed packaged article while rotating it.

[0005]

However, the rotation of such a sealed packaged article is achieved by supporting a plurality of sealed packaged articles on a rotating cage installed in a processing pot and heating the sealed packaged article while rotating the rotating cage. Is what you do. Therefore, compared to the case where the sealed packaged article is heated without rotating at all, the mixing of each part of the article in the individual sealed packaged article,
Although the temperature can be expected to be uniform, there is a difference in the applied centrifugal force between the sealed packaged article supported near the center of rotation of the rotating cage and the sealed packaged article supported at the periphery of the rotating cage. The degree of mixing of each part of the article and the degree of uniformity of the heating temperature differ.

[0006] Therefore, there is still a difference in heat treatment between the sealed packaged articles. Therefore, the present invention provides a method and a device for heating a sealed packaged article enclosed in a packaging container. In heating a plurality of sealed packaged articles, a heating treatment difference between the sealed packaged articles is reduced and each sealed packaged article is heated. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for heating a sealed packaged article capable of performing uniform heat treatment on the packaged article.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided the following method and apparatus for heating a sealed packaged article. (1) Heating method of sealed packaged article A plurality of storage cases for sealed packaged articles capable of accommodating one or two sealed packaged articles sealed in a packaging container are arranged on one case rotation axis, or at least. At least one is disposed on each of the two case rotation axes, the sealed case is stored in the storage case, and the storage case is rotated from the outside of the storage case to the inside of the storage case while rotating the storage case around the case rotation axis. A method for heating a sealed packaged article, comprising heating the sealed packaged article.

According to the method for heating a sealed packaged article according to the present invention, a plurality of sealed packaged articles are respectively accommodated in storage cases arranged on a case rotation axis, and the storage case is rotated about the case rotation axis. While being heated, it is heated from the outside of the storage case. As described above, each sealed packaged article is heated while being rotated about the axis of rotation of the case, and the number of sealed packaged articles in one storage case is limited to at most two. By equalizing the centrifugal force applied to each, each sealed packaged article can be heated similarly.

Thus, when heating a plurality of sealed packaged articles, the difference in heat treatment between the sealed packaged articles is reduced,
A heat treatment can be uniformly applied to each sealed packaged article. The heating temperature of such sealed packaged articles varies depending on the type of article and the purpose of heating, but is generally 70 ° C. or higher for foods and pharmaceuticals. In the heating method according to the present invention, when a plurality of sealed packaged articles are arranged on one case rotation axis, they can be arranged in a line on the case rotation axis.

As a more specific embodiment of the method for heating a sealed packaged article according to the present invention, the following heating method can be exemplified. 1) A plurality of storage cases are provided on each case rotation axis of a plurality of case rotation axes in a fixed position parallel to each other.
A sealed packaged article heating method in which the packaged articles are arranged in a row, and the packaged articles in the packaged case are heated from outside the packaged case while rotating the packaged cases on the case rotation axis about the case rotation axis.

This is a so-called batch heating method. 2) A plurality of the housing cases are arranged in a single row on each of the plurality of parallel case rotation axes on the case rotation axis, and the housing case groups arranged in a single row are maintained at a predetermined interval in a predetermined direction. A sealed packaged article heating method for heating a sealed packaged article in a storage case from the outside of the storage case while rotating while moving the packaged product.

This is a so-called sequential heating method. In any of the heating methods according to the present invention, when adopting a storage case capable of storing two sealed packaged articles as the storage case, two sealed packaged articles each stored in the storage case are used. Are preferably arranged on the case rotation axis such that one is arranged on each side of the case rotation axis on which the storage case is arranged. With this arrangement, the centrifugal force applied to each of the two sealed packaged articles in one storage case is equalized, and each sealed packaged article can be similarly heated.

In any of the above-described methods for heating a sealed packaged article, the following can be exemplified as a specific heating method for the sealed packaged article. a) disposing the storage case in a heated fluid atmosphere capable of heating the sealed packaged article to a predetermined temperature; b) forming at least a part of the storage case with a microwave-permeable material, and applying the microwave to the storage case. The microwave is applied to the sealed packaging article in the storage case from the portion formed of the transparent material.In this heating method, from the outside of the storage case through the microwave transmitting portion of the case,
For example, about 300 MHz to 3 GHz, more preferably 9 MHz
A microwave of about 00 MHz to 3 GHz is irradiated, and the article irradiated with the microwave is heated to a predetermined temperature. c) at least a part of the housing case is formed of a material capable of high-frequency induction heating, and a portion of the housing case formed of the material capable of high-frequency induction heating is subjected to high-frequency induction heating;
In this heating method, the housing case portion can be subjected to high-frequency induction heating by applying a high-frequency alternating magnetic field with high-frequency power having a frequency of, for example, about 5 kHz to 100 MHz to a portion formed of a material capable of high-frequency induction heating. As a result, it is possible to heat the article stored corresponding to the portion subjected to the high-frequency induction heating to a predetermined temperature.

The heating temperature by high-frequency induction heating can be easily adjusted by changing high-frequency power supplied for high-frequency induction heating or changing the number of windings of an alternating magnetic field application coil supplied with high-frequency power. Can be changed. d) As the storage case, a storage case including a part formed of a microwave permeable material and a part formed of a material capable of high-frequency induction heating is adopted, and the microwave permeable material of the storage case is used. Microwaves are radiated from the formed portion to the sealed packaged article in the storage case, and the portion of the storage case formed of the material capable of high-frequency induction heating is subjected to high-frequency induction heating.

According to this heating method, the sealed packaged article can be heated by using both microwave irradiation and high-frequency induction heating according to the article contained therein. B),
In each of the heating methods c) and d), the sealed packaged article can be heated in a normal pressure atmosphere. Here, "normal pressure atmosphere"
It refers to an atmospheric pressure atmosphere or a pressure atmosphere in which the pressure is not intentionally increased or reduced and can be regarded as substantially the same as the atmospheric pressure. (2) Heating device for sealed packaged articles This is a case for containing one or two sealed packaged articles sealed in a packaging container, and a plurality of sealed packaged articles are arranged on one case rotation axis. At least one storage case or at least one storage case arranged on each of the at least two case rotation axes, a rotation drive unit configured to rotate the storage case around the case rotation axis, and the rotation drive unit A heating means for heating the sealed packaged articles stored in the storage case rotated from the outside of the storage case.

According to the apparatus for heating a sealed packaged article according to the present invention, a plurality of sealed packaged articles are respectively accommodated in the accommodation cases arranged on the case rotation axis, and the case rotation axis is set together with the accommodation case by the rotation driving means. Turned to the center. Then, the housing is heated from the outside of the housing case by the heating means in such a rotating state. As described above, each sealed packaged article is heated while being rotated about the axis of rotation of the case, and the number of sealed packaged articles in one storage case is limited to at most two. By equalizing the centrifugal force applied to each, each sealed packaged article can be heated similarly.

Thus, in heating a plurality of sealed packaged articles, the difference in heat treatment between the sealed packaged articles is reduced,
A uniform heat treatment can be applied to each sealed packaged article. In the heating device according to the present invention, when a plurality of sealed packaged articles are arranged on one case rotation axis, they can be arranged in a line on the case rotation axis.

As a more specific embodiment of the sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to the present invention, the following heating apparatus can be exemplified. 1) A plurality of housing cases are provided on each case rotation axis of a plurality of case rotation axes in a fixed position parallel to each other.
A sealed packaged article heating apparatus arranged in a row, wherein the rotation drive means rotates the storage cases on all the case rotation axes about the case rotation axis.

This is a so-called batch heating device. 2) The plurality of housing cases are arranged in a row on each of a plurality of parallel case rotation axes, and the rotation driving means determines the housing case groups arranged in one row each. The sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sealed packaged article heating apparatus is rotated while being moved in a predetermined direction while maintaining an interval.

This is, so to speak, a continuous heating device. In any of the heating devices according to the present invention, a storage case that can store two sealed packaged articles can be adopted as the storage case. In that case, each storage case is arranged on the case rotation axis such that two sealed packaged articles stored in the storage case are arranged one by one on both sides of the case rotation axis on which the storage case is disposed. Is preferred.

[0021] Thereby, 2 in one storage case is obtained.
By equalizing the centrifugal force applied to each of the individual sealed packaged articles, each sealed packaged article can be similarly heated. In any of the above-described devices for heating a sealed packaged article, the following can be exemplified as the heating means. A heating chamber for accommodating the storage case rotated by the rotation driving means; and a heating fluid supply means for supplying a heating fluid for heating the sealed packaged article in the storage case to a predetermined temperature into the heating chamber. Heating means. In a case where at least a part of the storage case is formed of a microwave permeable material, a portion of the storage case that is rotationally driven by the rotation driving unit is formed in the storage case from a portion formed of the microwave permeable material. Heating means provided with microwave irradiation means for irradiating microwaves to the sealed packaged article.

In the heating device having this heating means, the heating means irradiates microwaves of, for example, about 300 MHz to 3 GHz, more preferably about 900 MHz to 3 GHz, from the outside of the housing case through the microwave transmitting portion of the case. The microwave-irradiated article is heated to a predetermined temperature. In a case where at least a part of the housing case is formed of a material capable of high-frequency induction heating, a portion formed of the material capable of high-frequency induction heating which is rotationally driven by the rotation driving means is driven by high-frequency induction heating. Heating means provided with high-frequency induction heating means for heating.

In the heating device having this heating means, the heating means applies a high-frequency alternating magnetic field with a high-frequency electric power of, for example, a frequency of about 5 kHz to 100 MHz to a portion formed of a material capable of high-frequency induction heating, thereby accommodating the housing. The case portion is subjected to high-frequency induction heating. Thereby, the articles stored corresponding to the portions subjected to the high-frequency induction heating are heated to a predetermined temperature.

In this case as well, the heating temperature by the high-frequency induction heating is changed by changing the high-frequency power supplied for high-frequency induction heating or by changing the number of windings of an alternating magnetic field application coil supplied with the high-frequency power. Can be easily changed. In a case where the storage case includes a portion formed of a microwave permeable material and a portion formed of a material capable of high-frequency induction heating, the rotation of the storage case is performed by the rotation driving unit. Microwave irradiating means for irradiating microwaves from the portion formed of the microwave permeable material to the sealed packaging article in the housing case, and high frequency induction heating of the portion of the housing case formed of the high frequency induction heatable material. Heating means comprising: high-frequency induction heating means for heating.

In the heating apparatus provided with this heating means, the sealed packaged article can be heated by using both microwave irradiation and high-frequency induction heating according to the article contained therein. In each of the above heating devices, the “normal pressure atmosphere” refers to an atmospheric pressure atmosphere or a pressure atmosphere that is not intentionally increased in pressure or reduced in pressure and can be regarded as approximately the same as the atmospheric pressure.

In any of the methods and apparatus for heating a sealed packaged article according to the present invention, the packaging container in the sealed packaged article is entirely a heat-resistant container capable of withstanding the required heating temperature of the article. In addition, at least a part of a portion that accommodates an article to be heated by microwave irradiation is formed of a material having microwave transparency. The entire packaging container may be formed of a microwave transparent material.

Examples of the material having microwave transparency and heat resistance include polyolefin resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as polystyrene and polyesters [PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PET (polyethylene phthalate) and the like. ], Polyamides, vinylidene chloride, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers, etc. can be used alone or in the form of a polymer, and these resins have excellent oxygen permeation barrier properties, and are therefore composed of these resins. Packaging containers have high sealing properties.

The material having the microwave permeability and the heat resistance is used in the practice of the present invention.
It can be used as a material for each part requiring microwave transmission. As the shape of the packaging container in the sealed packaging article, the packaging container is formed in a bag shape with a film and can be slightly deformed, and the opening of the container body obtained by molding a synthetic resin material is made of a film, a thin plate, or the like. Any material, such as one closed with a lid, may be used. Various forms, such as deep-drawing containers capable of storing foods such as retort pouches, hams, and sausages, are applicable.

The packaging container may have a plurality of article storage chambers, and the article storage chambers may store the same article or different articles. In any of the heating methods and heating apparatuses according to the present invention, the storage case for the sealed packaged article is disposed on the case rotation shaft, supported by the shaft, and the storage case on the shaft is simultaneously rotated by rotating the shaft. You may make it rotate. Alternatively, a housing case support frame that can be rotated about the case rotation axis may be prepared, and one or more housing cases may be arranged on the frame along the case rotation axis.

Each part of the storage case has heat resistance enough to withstand the temperature reached by each part of the storage case when the sealed packaged article is heated to a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, depending on the pressure inside the packaging container which is increased by the heating of the sealed packaging article, pressure resistance for holding the sealed packaging article may be provided so that the packaging container is not damaged. In particular, when heating is performed using microwave irradiation or / and high frequency induction heating in a normal pressure atmosphere, such pressure resistance is provided.

Further, as a storage case for sealed packaged articles,
It is possible to use a storage case having a storage space in a shape that embraces the whole hermetically sealed packaged article substantially without gaps. When this storage case is adopted, the whole of the sealed packaged product is embraced in the storage space in the storage case with substantially no gap, and even if the internal pressure of the packaged container in the sealed packaged product is increased by heating, the sealed container is kept at the internal pressure. In addition to the possibility of being greatly expanded and damaged, the pressure inside the packaging container required for heating to a predetermined temperature is maintained. In particular, when the sealed packaged article is heated by microwave irradiation in a normal pressure atmosphere or (and / or) high-frequency induction heating, the storage case is provided with the microwave irradiation area and / or the high-frequency induction heating area of the packaging container. There is no need to maintain a high-pressure atmosphere to prevent expansion and rupture, thereby eliminating the need for expensive equipment.

Also, a heating fluid atmosphere, microwave irradiation,
Regardless of the heating method used, such as high-frequency induction heating, when such a storage case is employed, the packaging container is divided into a plurality of chambers, and different articles (eg, foods) are sealed in the respective chambers. Even if the internal pressure of the container is different, the sealed packaged article is entirely held in the accommodation space in the accommodation case with almost no gap, so that there is no danger that the container is partially damaged.

[0033] When the sealed packaged article housing case includes a portion formed of a microwave permeable material, the microwave permeable portion may be a dielectric material, such as microwave permeable glass or other ceramic or synthetic material. It can be formed of a resin (for example, polytetrafluoroethylene). Further, when the sealed packaged article housing case includes a portion formed of a material capable of high-frequency induction heating, such a portion capable of high-frequency induction heating can be formed of a magnetic body or a member provided with a magnetic body. When a member provided with a magnetic material is used, a typical example of a method of providing the magnetic material on the member is welding of a magnetic material.

As such a magnetic material, iron, nickel,
Examples include ferromagnetic metal materials such as cobalt, and paramagnetic metal materials such as aluminum and stainless steel. The surface of the above-described paramagnetic metal and the surface of a diamagnetic metal such as silver, copper, gold, and brass are ferromagnetic. What spray-coated the body material can also be used. In any case, the sealed packaged article storage case may be entirely or partially formed of a material having a high thermal diffusivity.

The thermal diffusivity is an index indicating how easily heat can be transmitted. When a material having a high thermal diffusivity is used, the temperature of the entire storage case can be quickly raised when heating the sealed packaged article. Local heating of the sealed packaged article can be prevented. In addition, when heating by microwave irradiation or high-frequency induction heating, the externally-heated packaged articles are also auxiliaryly heated together with the storage case, the heat from the outside is quickly transmitted to the entire storage case. In addition, when the sealed packaged article is heated together with the storage case after the heat treatment, the cooling is quickly performed.

The material having a high thermal diffusivity is not limited thereto, but has a thermal diffusivity of 1.7 × 10 ⁻⁴ m ² / sec.
An example is about 3.3 × 10 ⁻⁶ m ² / sec. Examples of such a material include a metal having a large thermal diffusivity. For example, copper (about 1.0 ×
10 ^-4 m ² / sec), aluminum (approximately 8.36 × 10
^-5 m ² / sec), brass (brass) (approximately 2.78 × 10 ^-5 m)
² / sec), nickel (approximately 2.08 × 10 ⁻⁵ m ² / sec)
), Iron (about 1.25 × 10 ⁻⁵ m ² / sec), titanium, stainless steel, and alloys thereof.

In terms of structure, the case for accommodating the sealed packaged article includes, for example, a case body having an opening for taking in and out the sealed packaged article, and a lid for closing the opening. Can be illustrated as an example of a storage case that is detachably fixed to the case body by the lid fixing device. Also in this storage case, as described above, the storage space portion having a shape that embraces the whole sealed packaging article to be stored with substantially no gap is a storage case formed by the lid and the case body closed thereby. be able to.

The lid fixing device may be of various types as long as it does not adversely affect the transportation of the sealed packaged article storage case, the heating of the sealed packaged article, and the like. For example, there can be cited one or more U-shaped clip members that can be engaged with the bottom surface of the case main body and the top surface of the lid closed with the case main body to fix the lid to the case main body. .

A first member to which the lid is connected via a spring and a second member rotatably connected to the first member, which are engaged with a predetermined portion of the case body. A second member having an engagement portion capable of engaging the engagement portion of the second member with a predetermined portion of the case body in a state where the lid is installed in the case body so as to close the opening of the case body. By doing so, it is also possible to exemplify a case in which the lid can be pressed and fixed to the case body by the first member using the restoring force of the spring.

In any case, this is a storage case having a case body having an opening through which the sealed packaged article is taken in and out, and a lid closing the opening, wherein the packaging container in the sealed packaged article has an opening in the container body. When the peripheral edge of a container lid made of a film, a thin plate, or the like is fixed to the surrounding flange by heat sealing or other means and closed, the storage case is made of a packaging container comprising the case body and the lid. It is preferable that the flange portion can be clamped.

In any case, the article heating temperature in the step of heating the sealed packaged article is, for example, a sterilization temperature. As such an article, a food or a pharmaceutical can be exemplified. Further, when the article in the sealed packaged article is a food, the food heating temperature in the heating step of the sealed packaged article may be, for example, a cooking temperature for cooking the food in a predetermined state.

In the method of heating a sealed packaged article according to the present invention, when microwave irradiation or / and high frequency induction heating is used, the sealed packaged article is supplementarily heated from the outside together with the containing case accommodating the same. May be. By this auxiliary heating, the heat of the storage case and the sealed packaged article heated by the high-frequency induction heating or / and the microwave irradiation can be suppressed from escaping from the storage case to the outside. In other words, by such auxiliary heating, energy for heat retention can be supplied from the outside so that the heat of the sealed packaged article does not escape or hardly escapes through the storage case.

The heating temperature of the auxiliary heating may be a predetermined temperature of the sealed package article to be reached by microwave irradiation or high-frequency induction heating, or a temperature slightly higher or lower than the predetermined temperature. Such auxiliary heating can be performed, for example, by supplying high-temperature air or water vapor at a predetermined temperature to the microwave irradiation region or the high-frequency induction heating region.

In the case of performing such auxiliary heating, the heating device may be provided with auxiliary heating means for auxiliaryly heating the sealed package article from the outside together with the accommodation case accommodating the same. Further, the method for heating a sealed packaged article according to the present invention includes a step of holding the sealed packaged article in a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined period of time in a case where the sealed packaged article is stored, following the step of heating the sealed packaged article. Is also good.

For example, in order to make the temperature of the whole article including the inside of the sealed packaged article more uniform and to sterilize the sealed packaged article, a predetermined time range (for example, 121 ° C.)
If it is required to hold the sealed packaged article in this way, after the heating of the sealed packaged article, a step of holding the sealed packaged article together with the accommodation case in a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined time may be included.

When the constant temperature maintaining step is employed as described above, the heating device may be provided with a constant temperature chamber for holding the sealed packaged articles in a predetermined temperature range for a predetermined time together with the storage case storing the sealed packaged articles. Further, the method may include a step of cooling the sealed packaged article together with the containing case after holding the sealed packaged article in the containing temperature case for a prescribed time in the containing case.

In the cooling step, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sealed packaged article may be cooled with water, warm water, water spray, air or the like together with the containing case. In the case where the cooling step is adopted, the heating apparatus may be provided with a cooling chamber for cooling the hermetically sealed package, which has exited the constant temperature chamber, together with the accommodation case accommodating the same.

[0048]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows some examples of sealed packaged articles to which a heating method according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 1A is a plan view of one example, and FIG. 1B is a side view thereof. FIG. 1C is a plan view of another example, and FIG.
(D) is a side view thereof. FIG. 1E is a plan view of still another example. FIG. 1F is a side view of still another example.

The sealed packaged article A shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B) contains two types of foods 81a and 81b in a packaging container 81.
(It may be a medicinal product). The packaging container 81 includes a main body 811 and a lid 812. The container body 811 is formed integrally by molding a synthetic resin material.
1b, and the container body wall stands up between the two chambers in the shape of a partition wall. The food 81a is stored in the room 811a.
b is housed in the chamber 811b. The lid 812 is made of a synthetic resin film, is covered so as to cover the opening of the container main body 811 (the opening of each chamber), and is provided on the flange 810 around the opening of the container main body 811 and the upper surface of the rising wall between the two chambers. Each is air-tightly heat-sealed.

The sealed packaged product B shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D is a sealed packaged medicine in which a food 82a (may be a medicine) is hermetically sealed in a packaging container 82. The packaging container 82 includes a main body 821 and a lid 822. The container main body 821 is formed integrally by molding a synthetic resin material, and has one article storage chamber 821a. Food 82a is stored in room 821a. The lid 822 is made of a synthetic resin film, is covered so as to cover the opening of the container main body 821, and is air-tightly heat-sealed to the flange 820 around the opening of the container main body 821.

The sealed packaged article C shown in FIG. 1E is a sealed packaged food in which three types of foods 83a, 83b, and 83c (which may be pharmaceuticals) are hermetically sealed in a packaging container 83. The packaging container 83 includes a main body 831 and a lid 832. The container main body 831 is formed integrally by molding a synthetic resin material, and has three article storage chambers 831a and 831a.
b, 831c, and the container main body wall rises in a partition wall shape between the chambers. Food 83a is room 831a
The food 83b is in the room 831b, and the food 83c is in the room 831.
c. The lid 832 is made of a synthetic resin film, is covered so as to cover the opening of the container body 831 (the opening of each chamber), and is disposed on the flange 830 around the opening of the container body 831 and the upper surface of the rising wall between the chambers. Heat-sealed adhesively.

A sealed packaged article D shown in FIG. 1 (F) is one in which a food 84a (which may be a drug) is hermetically contained in a flexible bag (pouch) -shaped packaging container 84. Each container 81,
82, 83, 84 are formed with good airtightness, and the container body and the lid are made of a synthetic resin material having heat resistance enough to withstand the heating temperature, for example, polyolefin resin (polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.), polyester, polyamide, vinylidene chloride, etc. And is formed from a synthetic resin material that is not inconvenient for the contained article.

The form of the sealed packaged article to be heated according to the present invention is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 2 (A) and 2 (B) show an example of a housing case used for a method and a heating device for a sealed packaged article according to the present invention. The sealed packaged article storage case is shown in FIG.
According to the form of the sealed packaged article including the sealed packaged articles A, B, C, and D shown in (1), an appropriate form, structure, and the like can be formed.

2 (A) and FIG. 2 (B), as shown in FIG.
(C) a case body 711 having an opening 711a for taking in and out a sealed packaged article B of the type shown in FIG.
1a, and a lid 712 that closes 1a. The lid 712 can be detachably fixed to the case body 711 by the lid fixing device 713.

The case body 711 has a space for accommodating the sealed packaged article B, and the case body 711 has a cover 71.
When the case body opening 711a is closed with the cover 2, the hermetically sealed packaged article accommodation space formed therein has a shape capable of embracing the whole hermetically sealed packaged article B with almost no gap.
Therefore, by putting the sealed packaged article B into the storage case main body 711 and closing it with the lid 712, the whole sealed packaged article B can be hugged with almost no gap. In addition, the flange portion 820 of the sealed packaged article B includes the case body 711 and the lid 71.
2 between.

In the example shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a ring-shaped member (here, an O-ring) 712a for hermetic sealing is fitted on the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the lid 712. It is sandwiched between the lid 712 and the case main body 711 outside the flange portion 820 of the sealed packaging article. Such a hermetic sealing ring-shaped member may be provided on the case body side.

Such a ring-shaped member for hermetic sealing is as follows:
As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the flange portion of the sealed packaged article is sandwiched between the lid and the storage case, the sealed packaged article storage space can be made airtight. Although it is not always necessary, it is preferable to provide the sealed packaged article when it is not possible to clamp the sealed packaged article flange because the flanged section does not have such a flange.

Here, the whole of the sealed packaged article storage case 71 (lid and case body) is made of a material having a high thermal diffusivity, such as copper, iron, and aluminum. Here, it is formed of aluminum. Each part of the sealed packaged article storage case 71, particularly the storage case body 711 and the lid 712, has heat resistance enough to withstand hot water heating of the sealed packaged article B from outside the storage case 71, and is further increased by heating. The sealed packaged article B is provided with pressure resistance so that the packaged container B is not damaged by the pressure in the packaged container.

Although various types of lid fixing devices can be adopted, the lid fixing device 713 here comprises a pair of U-shaped clip members 713a. FIG.
As shown in (B), each clip member 713a engages the lower surface of the main body 711 and the upper surface of the lid 712 with the lid 712 closed in a state where the sealed packaging article B is put in the housing case main body 711. So that it is externally fitted to the combined body and lid from the side. Thus, the lid 712 is
Fixed airtight.

The storage case 71 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), a plurality of shafts 70 are arranged and fixed in series (one row) on a shaft 70 having a center line 70C as a center line, and supported by the shaft. The shaft 70 includes a shaft portion 702 connecting adjacent housing cases 71, a shaft portion 701 fixed to the housing case 71 at one end, and a shaft portion 703 fixed to the housing case 71 at the other end. ing. Shaft part 70
A chain gear 21 is fixed to 1.

The shaft 70 is rotatably supported by a bearing, and by rotating the shaft 70, a plurality of storage cases 7 on the shaft are provided.
The sealed packaged article B inside each case can be heated from the outside of each storage case 71 while simultaneously rotating 1. FIG. 3 shows an example of a heating device for that purpose. The apparatus for heating a sealed packaged article shown in FIG. 3 has a heating pot 1, in which a plurality of shafts 70 shown in FIG. 2C and provided with a plurality of storage cases 71 in a row are arranged in parallel. Are rotatably supported by bearings (not shown) so that they can rotate independently. The chain gear 21 on each shaft 70 is directed to the same side. An endless chain 22 is wound around these chain gears 21, and a part of the chain is also wound around a drive chain gear 23. The drive chain gear 23 can be rotationally driven by a variable speed rotary drive unit 24 including a motor. Chain gear 2
1, the chain 22, the drive chain gear 23, the drive unit 24, and the like constitute an example of a rotation drive unit (rotation drive device 2) for rotating the storage case.

The heating pot 1 is provided with a hot water introduction pipe 11 through which hot water can be supplied from a hot water supply device (not shown) into the pot. The heating kettle 1 is provided with an air introduction pipe 12 through which cooling air can be supplied into the kettle from an air supply device (not shown). In addition to the above, the heating pot 1 is provided with a discharge section 13 for the fluid in the pot, a pressure regulating valve 14, a thermometer 15, a pressure gauge 16 and the like.

According to this heating device, the sealed packaged articles B are stored in advance in the respective housing cases 71 on the respective shafts 70, and the respective housings 71 are rotated by rotating the respective shafts 70 with the rotation driving device 2. Then, the sealed packaged articles B can be heated to a predetermined temperature by introducing hot water into the pot 1 and further maintained at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to heat-treat each sealed packaged article B. Thereafter, hot water is discharged from the kettle 1 and cooling air is introduced into the kettle 1 to cool each sealed packaged article B together with the storage case 71, and thereafter each sealed packaged article can be taken out.

In this heat treatment, each sealed packaged article B
Is heated while being rotated about the case shaft 70 (case rotation axis 70C), and the number of sealed packaged articles in one storage case is one, so that centrifugal force is applied to each of the sealed packaged articles. With equalized forces, each sealed packaged article can be similarly heated. Thus, each of the plurality of sealed packaged articles B can be uniformly heat-treated by reducing the difference in heat treatment between the sealed packaged articles.

Each of the storage cases 71 is a sealed packaged article B.
Since only one is accommodated, the heat sealing capacity of the sealed packaged product B inside is quickly reduced and increased. Further, the whole of the sealed packaged article B is held in the accommodation space in the accommodation case 71 with substantially no gap, and the internal pressure increases in the packaging container 82 (see FIG. 1C) of the sealed packaged article B due to the heating. However, there is no possibility that the packaging container is damaged by the internal pressure. Further, the internal pressure of each packaging container required for heating to a predetermined temperature is maintained.

Further, since the packaging container in the sealed packaged article B is not likely to be damaged, it is not necessary to make the packaged container in the sealed packaged article B particularly strong and expensive, and the thickness, shape and size of the container wall are not required. In this respect, an appropriate packaging container according to the article to be packaged can be adopted. FIG. 4 shows another example of the sealed packaged article storage case and another example of the lid fixing device.

The housing case 71 'shown in FIG. 4 includes a case body 711' having an opening through which a pouch-type sealed packaged article D shown in FIG. 1 (F) is taken in and out, and a lid 712 'closing the opening. Have. The lid 712 ′ can be detachably fixed to the case body 711 ′ by the lid fixing device 714. The case body 711 ′ has a space that can accommodate a part of the sealed packaged article D,
2 'has a space for accommodating the rest of the sealed packaged article D. When the cover body 712 'is put on the case body 711' and the case body opening is closed, the hermetically sealed packaged article accommodation space formed inside has a shape capable of embracing the whole hermetically sealed packaged article D with almost no gap. I have.

Therefore, by putting the sealed packaged article D into the housing case main body 711 'and closing it with the lid 712', the entire sealed packaged article can be embraced with almost no gap. The flange portion 840 of the sealed packaged article D is
11 ′ and the lid 712 ′. Here, the whole of the sealed packaged article storage case 71 ′ (the lid and the case body) is formed of copper, iron, aluminum, or the like having a high thermal diffusivity. Here, it is formed of aluminum.

The sealed packaged article storage case 71 ′, particularly each part of the storage case body 711 ′ and the lid 712 ′, is provided with heat resistance enough to withstand hot water heating of the sealed packaged article B from outside the storage case 71 ′. In addition, the packaging container B is provided with pressure resistance for holding the sealed packaged article B so that the packaging container is not damaged by the pressure inside the packaging container which is increased by heating.

The cover fixing device 714 has a first member 714a and a pair of second members 714b. First member 71
The housing case lid 712 'is provided on the housing 4a via a spring 714c.
Are connected. The upper end of the second member 714b is pivotally connected to the left and right ends of the first member 714a in the drawing.
14d. At the lower end of each second member 714b, an engagement claw 714 that can be engaged with the bottom surface of the case body 711 ′.
b 'is provided.

According to the lid fixing device 714, the sealed packaged article D is put into the housing case main body 711 ', and the first member 7
The lid 712 'supported by 14a is attached to the case body 711'.
And put the first member 714a on the spring 71 in this state.
4c while pushing toward the lid 712 '.
14b is rotated to engage the engaging claw 714b ′ with the case body 71.
Engage with the bottom of 1 '. Thus, the lid 711 'can be fixed in the closed position.

When opening the lid 711 ', the first member 7
14a is pushed toward the lid, and the engaging claw 714 of the second member is pressed.
b ′ is separated from the bottom surface of the case body 711 ′, and the second member 71
4b is turned outward. Thus, the lid 712 'can be removed. A plurality of the storage cases 71 ′ are also provided on the case rotation axis 70C ′ with the same shaft 70 ′ as described above.
The sealed packaged articles D can be heated from the outside of the storage case 71 ′ by a high-temperature fluid such as hot water while being arranged in one row and rotating about the case rotation axis. Each of the sealed packaged articles D can be uniformly heat-treated by reducing the difference in heat treatment between the sealed packaged articles.

FIG. 5 shows still another example of the housing case used for the method and apparatus for heating a sealed packaged article according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5A, the sealed packaged article storage case 72 can be used to heat a sealed packaged article A of the type shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The storage case 72 has an opening 7 through which the sealed packaged article A is put in and out.
A case main body 721 having an opening 21a and a lid 722 for closing the opening 721a are provided. The lid 722 can be detachably fixed to the case body 721 by the lid fixing device 723.

The case main body 721 has a space for accommodating the two article storage chambers 811a and 811b of the sealed packaged article A, respectively. When the lid 722 is put on the case main body 721 and the case main body opening 721a is closed. The sealed packaged article receiving space formed inside the container has the entire sealed packaged article A, and a container partition wall-shaped rising portion 811c.
It has a shape that can be embraced with almost no gaps including it.

Therefore, by putting the sealed packaged article A into the housing case body 721 and closing it with the lid 722, it is possible to embrace the whole sealed packaged article almost without gaps, including the part rising up into the partition wall of the packaging container. it can. Further, the flange portion 810 of the sealed packaged article A is sandwiched between the case body 721 and the lid 722. Further, a ring-shaped member (here, an O-ring) 722a for hermetic sealing is fitted on the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the lid 722, and the lid 722 and the case body 72 are also provided outside the flange portion 810 of the sealed packaged article.
1.

In this case, the sealed packaged article storage case 72 is entirely microwave-permeable, and is made of a dielectric material, for example, microwave-permeable glass, other ceramics or synthetic resin (for example, (Polytetrafluoroethylene). Here, it is formed of a ceramic material. If there is no problem,
If necessary, a part of the storage case, such as a part of the case body 721 or a part of the lid 722, may be formed of a microwave-permeable material. At this time, a portion other than the portion formed of the microwave transmitting material may be formed of a material having a high thermal diffusivity.

The sealed packaged article storage case 72, particularly each part of the storage case body 721 and the lid 722, has heat resistance enough to withstand the heating of the sealed packaged article A by microwave irradiation from outside the storage case 72. In addition, the packaging container A is provided with pressure resistance for holding the sealed packaged article A so that the packaging container is not damaged by the pressure inside the packaging container which is increased by heating.

The lid fixing device 723 is a device 71 shown in FIG.
3 and includes a pair of U-shaped clip members 723a. Such a storage case 72 is
Here, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of shafts 700 having a case rotation axis 700C as a center line are arranged and fixed in series (one row) on the shaft 700 and supported by the shaft. The shaft 700 is attached to each of the storage cases 72
Penetrates. As shown in FIG. 5, each space of the storage case 72, that is, the articles 81a and 81b of the hermetically sealed packaged article A.
Are respectively arranged on both sides of the shaft 700 one by one.

The shaft 700 is rotated by the rotary driving device 3. FIG. 7 shows an example of a sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to the present invention equipped with the rotary drive device 3. This heating device will be described with reference to FIGS. This heating device is a device for heating a sealed packaged article by microwaves, and includes a heating chamber 4, a constant temperature chamber 5, and a cooling chamber 6 in this order.

A pair of parallel bases 3 penetrate these chambers.
0 is set. On the upper surface of each base 30, a rack gear 32 is fixed along the longitudinal direction of the base. Above each rack gear 32, a toothed endless belt 33 is arranged parallel to the rack gears. In total, each of the pair of endless belts 33 is wound around pulleys 36, 36 '. The pulley 36 is located outside the inlet of the heating chamber 4, and the pulley 36 ′ is located outside the outlet of the cooling chamber 6. The pulley 36 'is rotationally driven by a driving device including a motor (not shown), whereby the pair of endless belts 33 can rotate clockwise in FIG.

Shaft 7 supporting a plurality of storage cases 72
In FIG. 6, pinion gears 31 are fixedly provided at both ends as shown in FIG. At each end of the shaft 700, a grooved ring 34 is fixedly provided inside the pinion gear 31. The shaft 70 supporting the plurality of storage cases 72
No. 0 is placed on the pair of rack gears 32 so that the pinion gears 31 at both ends of the pinion mesh with the pair of rack gears 32, and can be rolled on the rack gears 32. Further, the pair of pinion gears 31 enters under the pair of endless belts 33 by the rolling advance, and can engage with the teeth of the endless belts 33 at this time.

By rotating the endless belt 33 clockwise in FIG. 7, the shaft 700 can pass through the heating chamber 4, the constant temperature chamber 5, and the cooling chamber 6 while rotating. At this time,
Guide members 35 (see FIG. 6) installed on each base 30 and extending in parallel with the rack gear 31 are provided with grooved wheels 3 at both ends of the shaft.
4 and guides the rolling movement of the shaft 70 along the rack gear 31.

A plurality of storage cases 72 on one shaft 700
Each of the shafts 7 contains a sealed packaged article A in advance.
00, a plurality of shafts 00 are sequentially prepared, and the respective shafts 700 are successively transferred to a pair of rack gears 32, and are sent between the rack gears and the endless belt 33 that is driven to rotate above the rack gears, thereby sealing the packaged articles A. Storage case 7
2 can be moved with the heating chamber 4, the constant temperature chamber 5, and the cooling chamber 6 while rotating together with the shaft 700 supporting the same.

The above-described pair of pinion gears 31 on the shaft 700, the pair of rack gears 32 meshing with the pinion gears 31, the pair of endless belts 33, and the like constitute a rotation driving device for the storage case. A microwave waveguide 41 is installed in the heating chamber 4 below the rotating housing case 72.
These waveguides 41 are connected to a microwave generator 42. Here, the microwave generator 42 is a magnetron, and can generate a microwave of 900 MHz to 3 GHz with a predetermined output.

Accordingly, by irradiating microwaves from each waveguide 41 to the accommodation case 72 passing therethrough while rotating above it in a normal pressure atmosphere, the sealed packaged article A inside the case can be heated. it can. In addition, each sealed packaged article A
Can reach a predetermined temperature only by microwave irradiation, but here, in microwave heating, high-temperature air at a predetermined temperature is supplied from the auxiliary heating device 44 to the heating chamber 4, whereby the microwave is heated. The heat radiation from the sealed packaging article A in the case is suppressed, and each sealed packaging article is more reliably heated to the predetermined temperature in a short time.

The sealed packaged article A is heated while being rotated,
Moreover, the number of sealed packaged articles in one storage case is one.
Since it is a unit, the centrifugal force applied to each of the sealed packaged articles A can be equalized, and each sealed packaged article can be heated in the same manner. Thus, each of the plurality of sealed packaged articles A can be uniformly heated by reducing the difference in heat treatment between the sealed packaged articles.

Each of the storage cases 72 is a sealed packaged article A.
Since only one is accommodated, the heat sealing capacity is small and small, so that the temperature of the inside hermetically sealed packaged product A and the temperature decrease in the cooling step described later are quickly performed. Further, the whole of the sealed packaged article A is held in the accommodation space in the accommodation case 72 with substantially no gap, and the internal pressure increases in the packaging container 81 (see FIG. 1A) of the sealed packaged article A by heating. However, there is no possibility that the packaging container is damaged by the internal pressure. Further, the internal pressure of each packaging container required for heating to a predetermined temperature is maintained.

Further, since the packaging container in the sealed packaged article A is not likely to be damaged, it is not necessary to make the packaged container in the sealed packaged product A particularly strong and expensive, and the thickness, shape and size of the container wall are not required. In this respect, an appropriate packaging container according to the article to be packaged can be adopted. Thus, the heating chamber 4
In the thermostatic chamber 5 provided with the heating device 51, the sealed packaged article is kept at a predetermined temperature together with the accommodation case 72 at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time, and then cooled to a predetermined temperature in a cooling chamber provided with a cooler 61.

FIG. 8 shows still another example of the housing case used for the method and apparatus for heating a sealed packaged article according to the present invention. Here, the sealed packaged article storage case 73 can be used to heat the sealed packaged article A. Storage case 7
3 includes a case body 731 having an opening 731a for taking in and out the sealed packaged article A, and a lid 732 for closing the opening 731a. The lid 732 can be detachably fixed to the case body 731 by the same lid fixing device 723 as described above.

The case main body 731 is, similarly to the case main body 721 shown in FIG. 5, a sealed packaged article accommodation space formed inside when the case main body 731 is covered with the lid 732 and the case main body opening 731a is closed. Is a container-partitioning wall-shaped rising portion 811c of the entire sealed packaging article A.
It has a shape that can be embraced with almost no gaps including it. Therefore, the sealed packaged article A can be embraced with almost no gap similarly to the storage case 72 of FIG. In addition, the flange portion 810 of the sealed packaged article A includes the case body 731 and the lid 73.
2 between. 732a in FIG.
2 is an O-ring for a hermetic seal on the lower surface of the peripheral edge portion.

In the sealed packaged article storage case 73, a ferromagnetic material M is welded to each of the bottom surface of the storage case body 731 and the top surface of the lid 732. Without limitation,
Here, iron is used as the ferromagnetic material. Except for the ferromagnetic material M and the O-ring 732a, the housing case 73 is formed of a paramagnetic material having a high thermal diffusivity such as aluminum or stainless steel. Here, it is formed of aluminum.

The sealed packaged article storage case 73 has heat resistance enough to withstand the heating of the sealed packaged article A by the high-frequency induction heating from the outside of the storage case 73, and further depends on the pressure inside the packaging container which is increased by heating. It has pressure resistance to hold the sealed packaged article A so as not to damage the container. The lid fixing device 723 is a device 7 shown in FIG.
13 and is composed of a pair of U-shaped clip members 723a.

As shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of such housing cases 73 are arranged and fixed in series (one row) on a shaft 700 having a case rotation axis 700C as a center line, and supported by the shaft. The shaft 700 penetrates each storage case 73. Each space of the storage case 73, that is, the sealed packaged article A
The space for accommodating each of the articles 81a and 81b
0, one on each side.

The shaft 700 is turned by the same rotary drive 3 as the rotary drive shown in FIGS. FIG. 10 shows still another example of the sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to the present invention equipped with the rotation drive device 3. This heating device is a device for heating a sealed packaged article using high-frequency induction heating. In the heating device using microwaves shown in FIG.
It has the same configuration as the heating device shown in FIG. 7 except that a high-frequency induction heating means described later is used instead of 2). Substantially the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the high-frequency induction heating means includes a coil CL for applying a high-frequency alternating magnetic field. The coil is installed so as to face each of the plurality of storage cases 73 on the shaft 700 that is moved while being rotated by the rotary driving device 3. Each coil CL is connected to the high frequency power supply PW. An alternating magnetic field with high frequency power of about 5 kHz to 100 MHz can be applied to the magnetic body M of the housing case 73 from each coil CL.

Therefore, by applying a high-frequency alternating magnetic field in a normal pressure atmosphere to the housing case 73 passing therefrom while rotating above each coil CL, the magnetic body M is
Further, the storage case 73 can be heated. Thereby, the sealed packaged article A inside the case can be heated. Also in this case, the sealed packaged article A is heated while being rotated, and the number of sealed packaged articles in one storage case is one, so that the centrifugal force applied to each of the sealed packaged articles A is reduced. With equalization, each sealed packaged article can be similarly heat treated.

Thus, each of the plurality of sealed packaged articles A can be uniformly heat-treated by reducing the difference in heat treatment between the sealed packaged articles. In addition, since each storage case 73 only stores one sealed packaged article A, it is formed small and has a small heat capacity.
The temperature in the cooling step is quickly reduced.

Further, the sealed packaged article A is entirely embraced in the accommodation space in the accommodation case 73 with substantially no gap.
By heating, the packaging container 81 of the sealed packaging article A (FIG. 1A)
), There is no danger that the packaging container will be damaged by the internal pressure. Further, the internal pressure of each packaging container required for heating to a predetermined temperature is maintained. Further, since the packaging container in the sealed packaging article A is not likely to be damaged, it is not necessary to make the packaging container in the sealing packaging article A particularly sturdy and expensive, and the thickness, shape,
In terms of size and the like, an appropriate packaging container according to the article to be packaged can be adopted.

FIG. 11 shows still another example of a method for heating a sealed packaged article and a storage case used for a heating apparatus according to the present invention. The sealed packaged article storage case 74 can be used to heat the sealed packaged article A. Storage case 74
Is a case body 741 having an opening 741a for taking in and out the sealed packaged article A, and a lid 7 closing the opening 741a.
42. The lid 742 can be detachably fixed to the case body 741 by the same lid fixing device 723 'as described above.

When the case body 741 is covered with the lid 742 and the case body opening 741a is closed, the hermetically sealed packaged article accommodating space formed therein forms the entirety of the hermetically sealed packaged article A in the form of a container partition wall. The shape including the rising portion 811c can be embraced with almost no gap. In addition, reference numeral 742a in FIG. 11 denotes an O-ring for hermetic sealing on the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the lid 742.

The sealed packaged article storage case 74 includes a bottom wall of the storage case body 741 and a part 74 of the lid 742.
1A and 742A are formed of a microwave transparent material. Also, the bottom wall of the case body 741 and the respective parts 741B and 742B of the lid 742 are formed of a ferromagnetic material capable of high-frequency induction heating. O-ring 742a
Except for the above, other parts are formed of a metal having a high thermal diffusivity, for example, aluminum.

Each part of the housing case body 741 and the lid 742 has required heat resistance and pressure resistance. The lid fixing device 723 'is of the same type as the device 713 shown in FIG. 2, and includes a pair of U-shaped clip members 723a'. The storage case 74 is shown in FIG.
1. As shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of shafts 700 'having a center line about the case rotation axis 700C' are arranged and fixed in series (one row) on the shaft 700 ', and supported by the shaft. Each space in each storage case 74, that is, the articles 81a and 81b of the sealed packaged article A
Are sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 700 ′.

The shaft 700 'is rotated by a rotary drive 3 similar to the rotary drive shown in FIGS. Then, a plurality of shafts 700 ′ are sequentially conveyed while being rotated by a heating device similar to the heating device shown in FIG. 7 equipped with such a rotation drive device. In this heating device, a microwave waveguide MP and a coil CL ′ for applying a high-frequency alternating magnetic field are installed so as to face each of the plurality of storage cases 74 on the shaft 700 ′. The microwave waveguide MP is disposed at a position facing the microwave permeable portions 741A and 742A so as to irradiate the microwave to the article 81a suitable for microwave heating in the storage case 74, and the coil CL 'is disposed in the storage case 74. The article 81b suitable for heating by high-frequency induction heating is arranged so as to face the ferromagnetic portions 741B and 742B so that the article 81b can be heated.

Thus, the article 81a of the sealed packaged article A,
81b is heated by heating by microwave irradiation and high frequency induction heating while being rotated. Thus, each sealed packaged article A can be uniformly heat-treated with a reduced heat treatment difference between the sealed packaged articles. In addition, an article storage part as illustrated in FIG. 1 (C) and FIG. 1 (F) can also heat one sealed packaged article by using both microwave heating and high frequency induction heating. In that case, for example, in the storage case 71 shown in FIG. 2, a part of the bottom wall of the case body 711 and / or a part of the lid 712 are formed of a microwave transmitting material, and the microwave transmitting material is used. A ferromagnetic material may be provided by welding or the like to a portion other than the conductive portion, and the microwave may be irradiated from the microwave transmitting portion to heat the ferromagnetic portion by high-frequency induction.

FIG. 13 shows still another example of a sealed packaged article housing case that can be employed in the method and apparatus for heating a sealed packaged article of the present invention. Storage case 71 shown in FIG.
E is a case that can accommodate two sealed packaged articles B of the type shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D. Storage case 71E
Is a case body 711E having an opening through which two sealed packaged articles B are put in and out, and a lid 712 that closes the opening.
E. The lid 712E is a lid fixing device 713.
With E, it can be detachably fixed to the case body 711E.

The case body 711E has a space for accommodating the two sealed packaged articles B, respectively. When the cover 712E is put on the case body 711E and the opening of the case body is closed, the sealing body formed therein is formed. The packaged article storage space has a shape capable of embracing the entire sealed packaged article B with substantially no gap. Therefore, each sealed packaged article B is put in the storage case main body 711E, and closed by the lid 712E.
Can be hugged with almost no gap. Further, the flange portion 820 of each sealed packaged article B is sandwiched between the case body 711E and the lid 712E.

In FIG. 13, reference numeral 712aE denotes a lid 712.
An O-ring for hermetic sealing fitted to the lower surface of the peripheral portion of E, and is sandwiched between the lid 712E and the case main body 711E. In this case, the sealed packaged article storage case 71E has a microwave transmission property as a whole (lid and case body), and has required heat resistance and pressure resistance.

The cover fixing device 713E is a device 7 shown in FIG.
13, and includes a pair of U-shaped clip members 713e. Such a storage case 71E
Are arranged and fixed in series (one row) on the shaft 70E, and are supported by the shaft. Each sealed packaged article B is symmetrically arranged on both sides of the shaft 70E. The shaft 70E is also rotated by the same rotary driving device as the rotary driving device 3 described above. Then, a plurality of shafts 70E are sequentially conveyed while being rotated by a heating device similar to the heating device shown in FIG. 7 equipped with such a rotary drive device.

In this heating device, the microwave waveguide is installed so as to face each of the plurality of housing cases 71E on the shaft 70E that moves while rotating. The microwave waveguide irradiates the microwave to two sealed packaged articles B in the storage case 71E to heat each sealed packaged article B. Thus, each sealed packaged article B can be uniformly heat-treated with a reduced heat treatment difference between the sealed packaged articles.

Each storage case 71E holds two sealed packaged articles B.
Since it is only housed individually, it is small and has a small heat capacity, so that the temperature of the sealed packaged article B inside and the temperature drop in the cooling step are quickly made. In addition, sealed packaged article B
Is entirely embraced in the housing space in the housing case 71E with almost no gap. Even if the internal pressure of the packaging container 82 (see FIG. 1 (C)) of the sealed packaging article B increases due to heating, the packaging container However, there is no fear that it will be damaged by internal pressure.
Further, the internal pressure of each packaging container required for heating to a predetermined temperature is maintained.

Next, a specific example of heating a sealed packaged article will be described together with a comparative example. Example 1 A sealed packaged article D of the type shown in FIG. 1 (F), in which the internal food 84a is milk porridge, is stored in a storage case 71 ′ shown in FIG. 4, and a lid of the type shown in FIG. The lid was fixed using a body fixing device, and a plurality of the lids were subjected to hot water heating treatment by a heating device shown in FIG. 3 while rotating each of them around a case rotation axis.

The packaging container 84 in the sealed packaging article D is
It was formed of a laminated film of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) / ONY (biaxially stretched polyamide) / CPP (unstretched polypropylene). 200 cc of milk porridge was filled. The air content in the container was 50 cc. Each sealed packaged article D was heated (cam-up) for 10 minutes with hot water of 128 ° C. while rotating at a rate of 4 times / minute, and further heated for 15 minutes.
Heating for a minute, then stop rotating the sealed packaged article,
Cool for 10 minutes. Embodiment 2 A sealed packaged article B of the type shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, in which the internal food 82a is milk porridge, is stored in a storage case 71 shown in FIG. The lids were fixed, and a plurality of the lids were subjected to hot water heat treatment by a heating device shown in FIG.

The packaging container 82 in the sealed packaging article B is
It was formed of a laminated film of PP (polypropylene) / EV-OH (saponified ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer)) / PP (polypropylene). 200cc milk porridge
Filled. The air content in the container was 50 cc. While rotating each sealed packaged article B at a rate of 4 times / min, the temperature is raised (cam-up) with hot water of 128 ° C. for 10 minutes, heated for another 15 minutes, and then the rotation of the sealed packaged article is stopped. And cooled for 10 minutes. Comparative Example With respect to each of the sealed packaged articles D and B in Examples 1 and 2, a plurality of sealed packaged article support cages in a conventional heat treatment kettle were individually arranged as they were, and the cages were rotated at a rate of 4 times / minute while rotating the cages at 128 times. Heated with hot water at 25 ° C. for 25 minutes, rotation of the cage was stopped, and the cage was cooled for 10 minutes.

[0114] In the comparative example, the browning of the milk porridge was observed in the sealed packaged articles D and B arranged near the center of rotation of the cage, but in Examples 1 and 2, the sealed packaged article in the heating pot 1 was observed. Regardless of the arrangement position, browning of the milk porridge did not occur in any of the sealed packaged articles. Regarding the degree of heating, Fo = 13 to 16 for all the sealed packaged articles in the examples, but Fo = 8 to 25 varied greatly in the comparative example depending on the orbital position of the sealed packaged articles in the pot.

[0115]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for heating a sealed packaged article enclosed in a packaging container. It is possible to provide a method and a device for heating a sealed packaged article capable of performing a uniform heat treatment on each sealed packaged article by reducing the difference in heat treatment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a sealed packaged article to be subjected to a heating method according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) is a plan view of one example, and FIG.
Is a side view thereof, FIG. (C) is a plan view of another example, FIG. (D) is a side view thereof, FIG. (E) is a plan view of still another example, and FIG. It is a side view of another example.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a sealed packaged article storage case according to the present invention, in which a storage case for storing a sealed packaged article of the type shown in FIG. 1 (C) is shown together with an example of a lid fixing device. 2 (A) is an exploded cross-sectional view, FIG. 2 (B) is an assembled cross-sectional view, and FIG. 2 (C) is a side view of a state in which a plurality are arranged on a case rotation axis.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a schematic configuration of an example of a sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the sealed packaged article storage case according to the present invention, in which the storage case for storing the sealed packaged article of the type shown in FIG. 1 (F) is shown together with another example of the lid fixing device. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view showing still another example of the sealed packaged article storage case according to the present invention, which shows a storage case for storing the sealed packaged article of the type shown in FIG. 1 (A) together with a lid fixing device; FIG. 5A is an exploded sectional view, and FIG. 5B is an assembled sectional view.

6 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of the sealed packaged article storage cases shown in FIG. 5 are arranged on a case rotation axis, together with microwave irradiation means.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another example of the sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing still another example of the sealed packaged article storage case according to the present invention, showing a storage case for storing the sealed packaged article of the type shown in FIG. 1 (A) together with a lid fixing device; FIG. 8A is an exploded sectional view, and FIG. 8B is an assembled sectional view.

9 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of the sealed packaged article storage cases shown in FIG. 8 are arranged on a case rotation axis together with a high-frequency induction heating means.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of still another example of the sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing still another example of the sealed packaged article storage case according to the present invention, showing a storage case for storing the sealed packaged article of the type shown in FIG. 1 (A) together with a lid fixing device. is there.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a state in which a plurality of sealed packaged article storage cases shown in FIG. 11 are arranged on a case rotation axis, together with microwave irradiation means and high-frequency induction heating means.

13 is a cross-sectional view showing still another example of the sealed packaged article storage case according to the present invention, showing a storage case for storing two sealed packaged articles of the type shown in FIG. 1 (C) together with a lid fixing device. It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

A, B, C, D Sealed packaging articles 81, 82, 83, 84 Containers 811, 821, 831 Container main bodies 811a, 811b, 821a, 831a, 832b,
833c Article storage portion 811c Container partition wall-shaped rising portion (see FIG. 5) 812, 822, 832 Container lid 810, 820, 830, 840 Container flange 81a, 81b, 82a, 83a, 83b, 83c, 8
4a Foodstuff 71 Sealed / Packaged Article Storage Case 711 Storage Case Main Body 711a Case Main Body Opening 712 Lid 712a O-Ring 713 Lid Fixing Device 713a Clip Member 70 Shafts 701, 702, 703 Supporting Storage Case 71 Parts of Shaft 70 70C Case Rotation axis 1 Heating pot 11 Hot water introduction pipe 12 Air introduction pipe 13 Fluid discharge unit 14 Pressure regulating valve 15 Thermometer 16 Pressure gauge 2 Rotary drive 21 Chain gear 22 Endless chain 23 Drive chain gear 24 Drive unit 71 'Sealed packaging article Housing case 711 ′ Housing case body 712 ′ Lid 70 ′ Axis 70C ′ Case rotation axis 714 Lid fixing device 714a First member 714b Second member 714b ′ Engagement claw 714c Spring 714d Connection pin 72, 73, 74, 71E Case 721, 731, 741, 711E Case body 722, 7 32, 742, 712E Lid 721a, 731a, 741a Opening 722a, 732a, 742a, 712aE O-ring M Magnetic material 723, 723 ', 713E Lid fixing device 723a, 723a', 713e Clip member 741A, 742A Microwave transmission Sex part 741B, 742B High-frequency induction heatable part 700, 700 ', 70E Shaft 700C, 700C' Case rotation axis 3 Rotation drive device 30 Base 31 Pinion gear 32 Rack gear 33 Endless belt 34 Grooved ring 35 Guide member 36, 36 ' Pulley CL, CL 'Coil PW High frequency power supply 4 Heating chamber 41, MP Microwave waveguide 42 Main waveguide 43 Microwave generator 44 Auxiliary rain heater 5 Constant temperature chamber 51 Heater 6 Cooling chamber 61 Cooler

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A sealed packaged article enclosed in a packaging container
A plurality of storage cases of sealed packaged articles that can be stored individually or in two cases are arranged on one case rotation axis, or at least one case is arranged on each of at least two case rotation axes, and sealed in the storage case. A method of heating a sealed packaged article, wherein the packaged article is stored, and the sealed packaged article in the storage case is heated from outside the storage case while rotating the storage case about the case rotation axis. 2. A plurality of storage cases are arranged in a row on each of a plurality of case rotation axes parallel to each other at a fixed position, and the storage cases on all case rotation axes are rotated by a case. The sealed packaged article heating method according to claim 1, wherein the sealed packaged article in the storage case is heated from outside the storage case while being rotated about an axis. 3. A plurality of storage cases are arranged in a row on each of a plurality of parallel case rotation axes, and the storage case groups arranged in one row are kept at a predetermined interval. The sealed packaged article heating method according to claim 1, wherein the sealed packaged article in the storage case is heated from outside the storage case while being rotated while being moved in a predetermined direction. 4. An accommodation case capable of accommodating two sealed packaging articles as said accommodation case, wherein said accommodation case is provided with said two sealed packaging articles accommodated in said accommodation case. 2. The case rotation axis is disposed on the case rotation axis so that one piece is arranged on each side of the case rotation axis.
4. The method for heating a sealed packaged article according to any one of items 1 to 3. 5. The sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage case has a storage space having a shape in which the whole sealed packaged article to be stored as the storage case is embraced with substantially no gap. Method. 6. Heating the sealed packaged article in the storage case from outside the storage case while rotating the storage case around the case rotation axis, a) heating the sealed packaged article to a predetermined temperature. Disposing the storage case in a fluid atmosphere; b) forming at least a part of the storage case with a microwave permeable material, and starting from a portion of the storage case formed with the microwave permeable material into the storage case. C) irradiating microwaves to the sealed packaged article, and c) forming at least a part of the housing case with a material capable of high-frequency induction heating, and a portion of the housing case formed of the material capable of high-frequency induction heating, Heating) d) a housing including a portion formed of a microwave-permeable material and a portion formed of a material capable of high-frequency induction heating, as the housing case; A case is adopted, and a microwave is applied to a sealed packaging article in the storage case from a portion formed of the microwave-permeable material of the storage case to form the storage case with the high-frequency induction-heatable material. The sealed packaged article heating method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which employs any one of heating methods in which the heated part is subjected to high-frequency induction heating. 7. A sealed packaged article enclosed in a packaging container
A case for storing one or two sealed packaged articles, wherein a plurality of storage cases are disposed on one case rotation axis or at least one case is disposed on each case rotation axis of at least two case rotation axes. An accommodating case disposed; a rotation driving means for rotating the accommodating case around the case rotation axis; and a sealed packaged article accommodated in the accommodating case rotated by the rotational driving means from the outside of the accommodating case. And a heating means for heating the sealed packaged article. 8. A plurality of storage cases are arranged in a row on each of a plurality of case rotation axes in a fixed position which are parallel to each other, and the rotation drive means is provided for all the case rotation axes. The sealed packaged article heating device according to claim 7, wherein the storage case on the line is rotated about the case rotation axis. 9. A plurality of housing cases are arranged in a row on each of a plurality of parallel case rotation axes of the case rotation axes, and said rotation drive means is arranged in a single row of housing cases. The sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the group is rotated while being moved in a predetermined direction while maintaining a predetermined interval. 10. The storage case is a storage case capable of storing two sealed packaged articles, and each storage case is a case in which two sealed packaged articles stored in the storage case are arranged. The sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the apparatus is arranged on the case rotation axis so that one piece is arranged on each side of the rotation axis. 11. The sealed packaged article heating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said storage case has a storage space portion having a shape that embraces the entire sealed packaged article to be stored with substantially no gap.