JP2001245642A - Retort sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adequately, smoothly carry plural racks, in which materials to be sterilized are arranged, into a retort oven. SOLUTION: A running pathway 6 consisting of a roller conveyer or the like is laid on the inner bottom of the retort oven 1 along the longitudinal direction. The running pathway 6 is divided into plural units of 6A to 6D in the carrying direction corresponding the racks 5 to be held in the retort oven 1, and a driving source 10A to 10D is placed in the corresponding unit 6A to 6D, individually. Thereby, a rack 5, on which a material to be sterilized is placed, is introduced to the specified position serially from the deepest side of the retort oven 1 by riding it on the running pathway 6, and racks can be held in a stationary state at the specified unit 6A to 6D until the whole of the racks 5 are completely stored.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retort sterilizer for heat-sterilizing foods, and more particularly to a retort sterilizer capable of properly and smoothly carrying an object to be sterilized into a retort pot.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, cooked foods such as curries and hamburgers which are distributed for commercial use are heat-sterilized in accordance with the Food Sanitation Law so that long-term preservation is effective. Is generally widely used.

FIG. 7 shows an example of such a case. A is a cylindrical retort pot (pressurizing pot) for accommodating an object to be sterilized.
One end of the rack D has an opening C which is opened and closed by a sealing lid B, so that a rack D on which an object to be sterilized is placed can be inserted and removed through the opening C. The rack D is configured by stacking a plurality of trays in a multi-tiered manner, and foods such as retort pouches and canned foods to be sterilized are arranged on each of the trays.

[0004] On the other hand, a running path E composed of a chain conveyor or a chain drive type roller conveyor is laid in series along the longitudinal direction of the bottom of the retort pot A, and a rack D is placed on the running path E. The objects to be sterilized can be subjected to heat sterilization treatment in a state where they are arranged in series.

According to this type of retort sterilizing apparatus, the rack D is sequentially loaded into the retort pot A on the traveling path E, and after the object to be sterilized is heated and sterilized, the traveling path E is reversed to remove the rack D. It can be carried out sequentially from the retort pot A.

[0006]

However, according to the conventional retort sterilizer configured as described above, when the rack is loaded into the retort pot, the running path is continuously operated.
With the previously loaded rack stopped at the front of the travel path by a car stop or the like, another rack is loaded on the travel path and loaded, so the previously loaded rack is in the fixed position and the traveling path is running. There is a drawback in that they come into sliding contact with each other and are worn out early. In particular, the forced sliding between the running path and the rack as described above consumes extra power for driving the running path, which is uneconomical.

In addition, the rack carried in first and the rack carried next collide with each other, and these racks get out of the track, or the objects to be sterilized arranged in them overlap with each other, so that proper treatment is performed. Could not be performed.

In order to solve this problem, a method has been adopted in which each rack is sequentially loaded while the running path is intermittently operated. However, such a driving operation is troublesome, and if the stop timing is not properly performed, the distance between the racks is reduced. May open too much to allow a predetermined amount of rack to be completely stored in the retort pot.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable a plurality of racks on which objects to be sterilized are arranged to be properly and smoothly carried into a retort pot. It is in.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention mainly comprises a retort pot in which racks on which objects to be sterilized are arranged are housed in series, and the retort pot is provided at the bottom of the retort pot. In a retort sterilization apparatus in which a traveling path for transporting the rack is laid along the longitudinal direction of the rack, the traveling path is divided into a plurality of units having individual driving sources in the transport direction of the rack. The present invention provides a retort sterilizing apparatus that performs the following.

Further, as a more preferable aspect, the present invention mainly comprises a retort pot in which racks on which the objects to be sterilized are arranged are accommodated in series, and the bottom of the retort pot is provided along the longitudinal direction of the retort pot. In a retort sterilizing apparatus in which a traveling path for transporting the rack is laid, the traveling path is divided into a plurality of units in the transport direction corresponding to each rack accommodated in a retort pot, and each unit is driven. A retort sterilizer is provided, wherein the sources are individually equipped.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a retort sterilizer according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a cylindrical retort pot formed of a corrosion-resistant material such as stainless steel, and the retort pot 1 is installed horizontally on a machine frame (not shown). Reference numeral 2 denotes a heat pipe laid at the bottom in the retort pot 1, and the heat pipe 2 extends in the longitudinal direction of the retort pot 1 (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing). Nozzle 3 which blows up)
Are attached at predetermined intervals.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a pipeline system connected to a water source W such as a water storage tank. The pipeline system 4 is piped around the outside of the retort pot 1, and one end thereof is connected to the heat pipe 2. In particular, the pipeline system 4 includes pumps P ₁ and P ₂ , control valves V _{1 to} V ₄ composed of solenoid valves, etc., and a steam-heated heater H, a part of which includes a heat medium in the retort pot 1. A circulation system that circulates while heating through the heater H is configured.
The heater H is connected to a heat source S such as a boiler, and serves to maintain a constant temperature while heating the circulating heat medium.

Here, a rack 5 as shown is housed inside the retort pot 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes a traveling path for transporting the rack 5, and the traveling path 6 is laid at the bottom of the retort pot 1 above the heat pipe 2. Reference numeral 7 denotes a bracket for attaching the traveling path 6, and the bracket 7 is fixed to the inner wall of the retort pot 1 by welding or the like. Reference numeral 8 denotes a guide roller provided on both sides of the retort pot 1 so as to oppose the side surface of the rack 5 and functions to keep the track of the rack 5 constant.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes a deflector provided on the ceiling surface of the retort pot 1. The deflector 9 has an arcuate curved surface and retorts the heat medium blown up from the nozzle 3 of the heat pipe 2. It turns downward along the inner peripheral surface of the shuttle 1 and plays a role of uniformly dispersing it in the retort shuttle 1.

Next, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the inside of the retort pot, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view thereof. As is clear from these figures, the traveling path 6 is laid along the longitudinal direction of the retort pot 1. In particular, the running path 6 consists of a roller drive conveyor of the chain drive type, which
In this example, in the transport direction (longitudinal direction of the retort pot)
The racks 5 are divided into two units 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D, and the racks 5 accommodated in the retort pot 1 are individually supported by the units 6A to 6D. That is, the traveling path 6 is divided into units 6A to 6D corresponding to the number of racks 5 accommodated in the retort pot 1, and the units 6A to 6D are arranged in series along the longitudinal direction of the retort pot 1. It is like that.

As is apparent from FIG. 3, each unit 6
A to 6D include drive sources 10A to 1 including an electric motor or the like.
0D is individually provided, and the units 6A to 6D can be individually driven by the respective driving sources 10A to 10D. Each of the drive sources 10A to 10D is fixed to the outer wall of the retort pot 1, and is connected to a control panel (not shown) so as to enable remote control. In the retort pot 1, detectors 11A to 11D including limit switches and the like are provided corresponding to the units 6A to 6D. Each of the detectors 11A to 11D detects the presence or absence of the rack 5 on the units 6A to 6D, and constitutes a control circuit for controlling the driving sources 10A to 10D by being connected to the above-mentioned control panel (not shown). I do.

2 and 3, reference numeral 12 denotes an opening formed at one longitudinal end of the retort pot 1, and 13 denotes a pressure lid for opening and closing the opening 12. When the pressure lid 13 is opened, the opening is opened. The racks 5 can be sequentially taken in and out from 12.

Here, a configuration example of each unit will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Although only one unit 6A is shown in FIG. 4, the other units 6B, 6C and 6D have the basic configuration as shown in FIG. In the figure, 14 is a side plate fixed to the bracket 7 shown in FIG. 1 with bolts / nuts, 15 is a bearing mounted on the side plate 14 at a predetermined interval, and 16 is a bearing 15 rotatably supported on both sides. Rolling rollers 17 that support both sides of the rack 5 are attached to both ends of each rotating shaft 16. A sprocket 18 is attached to each of the rotating shafts 16, and a chain 19 is wound around each of the sprockets 18 of the adjacent rotating shafts 16, and a drive shaft of a drive source 10 </ b> A is directly connected to one end of the specific rotating shaft 16. Is done.
The drive source 10A is a reversible motor having a speed reducer. When the drive source 10A is driven, the rotary shafts 16 having the rolling rollers 17 are simultaneously rotated through the sprocket 18 and the chain 19 and are mounted on the rolling rollers 17. The rack 5 can be transported in a predetermined direction.

Here, the rack 5 is configured by stacking a plurality of trays in a multi-stage manner. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a preferred example of the tray. As you can see in this figure,
The tray 20 is a porous rectangular container having a large number of holes 23 formed in a peripheral wall 21 and a bottom surface 22. A connecting pin 24 is provided on an upper edge portion on both sides, and a lower edge portion is provided on the lower edge. A pinhole 25 is formed in correspondence with the pin 24, and the objects R to be sterilized such as pouch foods are arranged on the bottom surface 22.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a partition for partitioning the inside of the tray 20, and the inside of the partition 26 is a flow path 27 through which a heat medium passes. Each tray 20 constitutes a rack 5 having a predetermined height by stacking the pins 24 and the pin holes 25 with each other so as to be stacked in a multi-stage manner. At this time, the flow paths 27 of each tray 20 communicate with each other. is there.

In particular, the flow path 27 forms a tapered slit having a C-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 6 to increase the flow velocity of the heat medium flowing from below and generate a negative pressure around the flow path. Act to make it. For this reason, the heat medium which fills the retort pot 1 flows into each tray 20 through the holes 23, and suitably heats the material R to be sterilized disposed therein.

Next, the operation of the retort sterilizing apparatus configured as described above will be described. First, upon subjecting the object to be sterilized R to a heat sterilization process, these are arranged in the tray 20,
Each of the trays 20 is stacked in multiple stages to form a rack 5 having a predetermined height, and a plurality of racks 5 are prepared. Then, each of the racks 5 is carried on a predetermined cart, carried to the location of the retort pot 1, and is sequentially loaded into the retort pot 1. At the time of carry-in, a control panel (not shown) is operated to drive the drive sources 10A to 10D of the units 6A to 6D constituting the traveling path 6 all at once, and to rotate the respective rolling rollers 17 in the same direction. As a result, the rack 5 set in the opening 12 is drawn into the unit 6A in the foreground and moves from the cart to the unit 6A.

In this way, each rack 5 is sequentially conveyed along the traveling path 6, and along the traveling path 6, the retort shuttle 1
When the rack 5 is carried in, the detectors 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> D detect arrival of the rack 5 at a predetermined position.
A control circuit is configured such that D stops in order from the first one. That is, when the first loaded rack 5 reaches the earliest unit 6D and this is detected by the detector 11D, the drive source 10D of this unit 6D stops, and in this state, the next rack 5 detects the detector 11C. Is detected by the driving source 10C of the corresponding unit 6C.
Is stopped.

Therefore, while the units 6A to 6D are simultaneously activated, the rack 5 mounted on the trolley is simply pushed into the inside of the retort pot 1 from the opening 12, and the racks 5 are sequentially set from the back side of the retort pot 1. The user can be guided to the position, and can stand by while standing on the units 6A to 6D in the stopped state at that position.

Here, when the rack 5 is completely housed in the retort pot 1 as described above, the pressure lid 13 is closed,
An appropriate amount of water is supplied from the water source W to the bottom of the retort pot 1 via the pump P ₁ and the control valve V ₁ , and then the stored water is supplied to the control valve V ₂ , the pump P ₂ , the heater H, and the control valve V ₄ . through circulation while heating it, which pump P ₂ operating the left control valve V ₄ closed while control valve V at the stage of reaching a predetermined temperature
_3. Open the nozzle 3 using heated hot water as a mist-like heat medium.
Blow up from

Then, the hot water passes through the flow path 27 of each tray 20 constituting the rack 5 and reaches the ceiling of the retort pot 1 while being accelerated. Then, the hot water is turned downward by the deflector 9, and Is drawn into the rack 5 which is brought into a negative pressure state by the ejector effect of the flow path 27 of FIG. Accordingly, the object to be sterilized disposed in the rack 5 is uniformly heated regardless of the location.

After the object to be sterilized is subjected to the heat sterilization treatment, the pressure in the retort pot 1 is reduced to about 1 atm, the pressure lid 13 is opened, and the object to be sterilized is taken out together with the rack 5. However, in this case, all the racks 5 can be smoothly carried out of the retort pot 1 by operating the control panel and starting the unit 6A in this order. In this case, the driving source 10 of each of the units 6A to 6D is used.
As a control example of A to 10D, it is desirable to configure an interlock control that can activate the drive source of the unit on the back side only when the unit on the opening 12 side is in an empty state.

As described above, a preferred example of the present invention has been described.
The traveling path is not limited to a chain drive type roller conveyor, but may be constituted by a chain conveyor or the like. The travel path is not limited to the four units as in the above example, and the number of units may be increased or decreased according to the capacity of the retort pot and the number of racks accommodated therein. In particular, it is preferable that the number of units correspond to the number of racks. However, it is also possible to increase the number of racks more than the number of racks so that two units support one rack.

On the other hand, the rack on which the objects to be sterilized are arranged is not limited to a stack of trays as shown in the present invention, but may be a box (basket) made of a perforated plate such as punched metal or a wire mesh. In this case, cans and the like can be layered and arranged inside. In the above example, the injection method of injecting hot water was shown as a heating method of the object to be sterilized. In addition, a steam injection method, a combined injection method of hot water and steam, or a hot water method (hot water in the retort kettle). It is a matter of course that a method in which the object to be sterilized is immersed in hot water by filling with water is also applicable.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the traveling path laid in the retort pot is divided into a plurality of units having individual driving sources in the rack transport direction. The racks can be properly and smoothly loaded and unloaded by each unit.

In particular, by dividing the traveling path into a plurality of units corresponding to the racks accommodated in the retort pot, the racks are sequentially guided from the back side of the retort pot to a fixed position, and the unit at that position is stopped. It is possible to support the rack in a state where it is made to run, so that the running path and the rack do not rub against each other and wear, their service life can be greatly extended, and the running path can be supported with low load. Since it can be driven, energy saving can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing a retort sterilizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the inside of a retort pot in the retort sterilizer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the inside of a retort pot in the retort sterilizer.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing one unit constituting a traveling path.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a tray constituting a rack.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the tray.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a conventional retort sterilizer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 R Object to be sterilized 1 Retort pot 5 Rack 6 Running path 6A to 6D Unit 10A to 10D Drive source 11A to 11D Detector 14 Side plate 16 Rotary shaft 17 Rolling roller 18 Sprocket 19 Chain

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A retort pot in which racks on which disinfected objects are arranged are housed in series, and a traveling path for transporting the rack along the longitudinal direction of the retort pot is provided at the bottom of the retort pot. In a retort sterilizing device which is laid, the running path is divided into a plurality of units having individual driving sources in a rack transport direction, wherein the retort sterilizing device is provided. 2. A retort pot in which racks on which disinfected objects are arranged are housed in series, and a traveling path for transporting the rack along the longitudinal direction of the retort pot is provided at the bottom of the retort pot. In the retort sterilizing device that is laid, the traveling path is divided into a plurality of units in the transport direction corresponding to each rack accommodated in the retort pot, and each unit is individually equipped with a drive source. A retort sterilizer characterized by the following.