JP2002142735A - Food temperature simulation measurement device, and thermal sterilization operation method using the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a food temperature simulation measurement device which can precisely measure the temperatures of foods in containers during a thermal sterilization operation for continuously passing the containers loaded on a carrying conveyer through a heating tank and a cooling tank to thermally sterilize the foods. SOLUTION: The water-supplying or draining operation section 14 of a food temperature simulation measurement device 10 is connected to a heating tank 2 and a cooling tank 4 of a thermally sterilizing machine 1. Hot water in the heating tank or cooling water in the cooling tank can be supplied into or drained from a simulation tank 12. In an arbitrary time zone during the thermal sterilization operation, the hot water or the cooling water is supplied into the simulation tank having temperature-measuring samples AT loaded therein for the same time periods as a thermal sterilization time TH, a migration time TM and a cooling time TC set in the thermal sterilization operation, and the changes in the temperatures of the foods in the temperature-measuring samples with the passage of time are displayed on a display 52 and recorded in a recorder 54.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a food processing in which food such as pickles is continuously heated and sterilized in a container, and a food temperature simulation measuring device for accurately measuring the temperature of the food in the container. And a heat sterilization operation method using the apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For preservation of foods such as vegetables, fruits and marine products, the foods are heat-sterilized in containers, such as cans, bottles, cups and bags, to extend the storage period. Is widely practiced. In the heat sterilization method for ordinary foods such as pickles, a medium temperature (about 80 degrees Celsius, for example, 75 degrees Celsius) is used in order to suppress deterioration of taste and texture due to heating and maintain commercial value.
(85 degrees Celsius) to 85 degrees Celsius).

[0003] In the food heat sterilization step in a clean food factory employing the above-mentioned medium temperature sterilization method, a container in which food conveyed on a conveyor is filled with warm water maintained at a predetermined temperature in a heating tank is completely filled. The food in the container is heated by being immersed in the container, and it is estimated that the entire food in the container has been heated to the desired sterilization heating temperature. The container is taken out of the constant temperature heating tank by the movement and rapidly cooled in the cooling tank, whereby the heat sterilization operation is completed. The reason for the rapid cooling is that if the food is left at a high temperature for a long time, the food deteriorates.

By the way, in order to grasp the temperature of the food being heated and the temporal change of the temperature, a method of measuring the temperature inside the food by attaching a temperature sensor to the container has been conventionally considered. It is difficult to mount a temperature sensor on a container that constantly moves inside the heating tank and the cooling tank while riding, due to cutting of a lead wire between the temperature sensor and the measuring device, poor insulation, and the like.

Therefore, prior to the continuous heat sterilization operation in the actual manufacturing process, a heating tank is used to house a plurality of containers in which foods as samples are sealed and heated. The temporal change in the temperature of the food was determined by sequentially taking out the containers in the heating tank, opening each of the taken-out containers, inserting a temperature sensor or the like into the containers, and measuring the temperature. Then, based on the result of the temperature measurement, the food portion of the container reaches a target sterilization temperature and estimates the holding time at which the bacteria of the food are killed, and the temperature of the hot water in the heating tank and the food containing the food are estimated. The time for immersion in the hot water was determined, and based on the result of the determination, the heat sterilization operation in the actual manufacturing process was performed.

[0006]

However, in the temperature measurement method using the above-mentioned temperature measurement, it is difficult to accurately grasp the heating time for the food to reach the sterilization temperature and the change in the temperature of the food in the central part. That is, the measurement accuracy is ambiguous, and the temperature measurement operation is troublesome. Moreover, every time the mixing ratio of the target food is changed or the shape and material of the container are changed, it is necessary to perform the troublesome temperature detection operation each time.

[0007] Therefore, in the conventional mesophilic sterilization method, as a safety measure for avoiding an accident of sterilization failure, heat sterilization is performed by setting the sterilization temperature and time considerably longer than originally required. However, heating the food more than necessary leads to deterioration of the taste and the like of the food. For example,
Taking heat sterilization of pickles as an example, the freshness and crispness at room temperature cause a boiling phenomenon due to the destruction of vegetable cells due to excessive heating, which deteriorates the taste in terms of freshness and crispness.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is intended to be used even during a heat sterilization operation in which a container on a transport conveyor continuously passes through a heating tank and a cooling tank. It is an object of the present invention to enable accurate measurement of the temperature of food in a container.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a container enclosing a food is immersed in hot water for a predetermined time to sterilize by heating, and then the container is sealed. A device for simulating and measuring the food temperature inside the container by creating the same environment as a heating / cooling machine for quenching by immersing the container in cooling water for a predetermined set time, wherein the temperature measurement is a container of the same type as the container. A small-capacity simulation tank in which a sample is placed, a temperature measuring means arranged in the temperature measurement sample to measure the food temperature inside, and a supply operation of hot water connected to the simulation tank, or the simulation A hot water supply / discharge operation unit for performing a hot water drain operation from the tank, and a cooling water supply operation or the simulation connected to the simulation tank; A cooling water supply / discharge operation unit that performs a cooling water drain operation from the inside of the tank, and controls the cooling water supply / discharge operation unit and the hot water supply / discharge operation unit in relation to each other, so that the inside of the simulation tank is moved for a predetermined set time. State filled with warm water,
Subsequently, a control unit for immersing the temperature measurement sample in the warm water or the cooling water so as to be in a state filled with the cooling water for a predetermined set time, and a lapse of time of the food temperature based on the measurement information from the temperature measuring means. An apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying a temporal change; and a recording unit for recording a temporal change of a food temperature.

[0010] The invention according to claim 2 is a sterilization and cooling method in which a conveyor containing a large number of containers enclosing food is continuously passed through a heating tank storing hot water and a cooling tank storing cooling water. Using a machine, the container, first,
In the heating tank, immersed in warm water for a predetermined heat sterilization time, and then withdrawn from the heating tank for a predetermined transition time and moved toward the cooling tank, and then cooled in the cooling tank for a predetermined time. In the heat sterilization operation method of immersing in the cooling water for a time, the hot water supply / discharge operation unit of the food temperature simulation measurement device according to claim 1 is connected to the heating tank, and the cooling water supply / discharge operation unit is connected to the heating tank. Connected to a cooling tank, it is possible to supply and drain hot water in the heating tank or cooling water in the cooling tank into the simulation tank, and at any time during the heat sterilization operation, the control unit The simulation in which the temperature measurement sample is placed inside by the related control of the cooling water supply and discharge operation unit and the hot water supply and discharge operation unit Hot water or cooling water is supplied in the same time zone as the heat sterilization time, the transition time, and the cooling time, and the temperature of the food inside the temperature measurement sample is measured by the temperature measuring means. This is a method in which a temporal change in temperature is displayed on the display unit, and a temporal change in the food temperature is recorded in a recording unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the heat sterilization operation method using the food temperature simulation measuring device according to the second aspect, the control unit is configured to control the container accommodated in the transport conveyor to move. The time period from when the container is immersed in the warm water in the heating tank to immediately before the container is drawn out from the warm water is stored as the heat sterilization time, and the hot water is supplied into the simulation tank only during the heat sterilization time. I have to.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the same as the claim 2,
Or, in the heat sterilization operation method using the food temperature simulation measurement device according to 3, the control unit, the container contained in the transport conveyor and moving, when the container is drawn out of the warm water of the heating tank, the cooling tank The time zone immediately before immersion in the cooling water is stored as the transition time, and neither the hot water nor the cooling water is supplied into the simulation during the transition time.

[0013] In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the heat sterilization operation method using the food temperature simulation measuring device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the control unit moves while being accommodated in the transport conveyor. The time period from when the container is immersed in the cooling water of the cooling tank to immediately before the container is withdrawn from the cooling water is stored as the cooling time, and the cooling water is stored in the simulation tank only during the cooling time. I am trying to supply.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a heat sterilizer and a food temperature simulation measuring apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a heat sterilizer 1 and a food temperature simulation measuring device 10 of the present embodiment.
And FIG. 2 is a schematic side view.

The heat sterilizer 1 of this embodiment includes a heating tank 2, a cooling tank 4, and a net conveyor 6. The heating tank 2 is a tank that stores, for example, about 3000 L of hot water up to a predetermined water level.
The cooling tank 4 disposed adjacent to the
This is a tank for storing about 00 L of cooling water up to a predetermined water level. The temperature of the hot water in the heating tank 2 is kept constant, for example, 60 degrees, by a heating pipe 2a as a heating element. The temperature in the heating tank 2 is controlled by detecting the temperature of the hot water with a temperature sensor (not shown) and controlling the temperature to a predetermined temperature via the heating pipe 2a. Further, it is assumed that the cooling tank 4 is constantly supplied with low-temperature groundwater or cold water cooled by a chiller. Although not shown, the heating tank 2 and the cooling tank 4
Is provided with a cover so as to cover most of the water surface in order to maintain the temperature of hot water or cooling water.

The net conveyor 6 is wound around the sprockets 5a, 5b, 5c in an endless shape, moves continuously in the direction of the arrow, passes through the heating tank 2, and is drawn out of the heating tank 2. , A device that moves in the cooling tank 4, and from an operation unit 50, which will be described later,
The driving is controlled by the input of the driving signal to a.

On the net conveyor 2, a large number of containers A containing foods to be sterilized by heating are stored. The food temperature simulation measurement device (hereinafter, abbreviated as a simulation device) 10 is a device that operates in conjunction with the heat sterilizer 1. The simulation apparatus 10 includes a simulation tank 12 having a maximum capacity of about 9 to 10 L disposed above the heating tank 2 and the cooling tank 4, a hot water supply operation from the heating tank 2, or a hot water supply operation from the inside of the simulation tank 12. A water supply / drainage operation unit 14 that performs a drainage operation and performs a cooling water supply operation from the cooling tank 4 or a cooling water drainage operation from the inside of the simulation tank 12, an operation unit 50, a temperature progress display unit 52, and a temperature progress recording unit. 54.

The supply / drainage operation section 14 includes a supply pipe 16 connecting the simulation tank 12 and the heating tank 2, a supply pump 18 interposed in the supply pipe 16 and supplying hot water of the heating tank 2 to the simulation tank 12. , Simulation tank 12 and cooling tank 4
A supply pipe 20 for connecting between the two, a supply pump 22 interposed in the supply pipe 20 for supplying the cooling water of the cooling tank 4 to the simulation tank 12, and one end connected to the simulation tank 12 and branching into two branches in the middle A drain pipe 24 connected to both the heating tank 2 and the cooling tank 4 as a pipe; a drain pump 26 interposed in the simulation tank 12 of the drain pipe 24;
Simulation tank 12 upper position and heating tank 2
An overflow pipe 28 connects between the cooling tank 4 and an overflow pipe 28 that connects between the cooling tank 4 and the upper position of the simulation tank 12. And
While overflow control valves 32 and 34 are interposed in the overflow pipes 28 and 30, respectively,
The control valve 3 is located at a position where the drain pipe 24 branches into two.
6, 38 are interposed. In addition, pipes 16, 20,
Numeral 24 may be either a hard pipe or a soft pipe.
The hot or cold water does not change its temperature when flowing between the two.

In the simulation tank 12, a net-shaped receiving basket 40 is provided, and several temperature measuring samples AT are placed in the receiving basket 40.
These temperature measurement samples AT are containers of the same type as the container A housed in the net conveyor 2, and a probe of a temperature sensor 42 such as a digital thermometer is provided at a position to be measured inside these temperature measurement samples AT. Has been posted.
The position to be measured is, for example, a central portion, an intermediate portion, an outer peripheral portion, and the like of the food contained in the container. Here, a water level sensor 48 is provided at the bottom of the simulation tank 12 so as to notify the operation unit 50 of the presence or absence of hot water or cooling water in the simulation tank 12. Reference numeral 46 in the drawing is a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the hot water or the cooling water supplied into the simulation tank 12. As the temperature sensor 46, a known temperature sensor such as a sensor using a thermistor such as a semiconductor sensor may be used.

The temperature progress display section 52 is a device for displaying the change over time of the temperature measurement sample AT based on the temperature information obtained from each temperature sensor 42. For example, the temperature progress display section 52 is digitized and displayed on a display screen. Is done. Further, the temperature progress recording unit 54 is a printer that stores a temporal change of the temperature measurement sample AT as data that can be displayed on a display screen based on temperature information obtained from each temperature sensor 42, or outputs the data to a recording paper. is there.

The operation unit 50 is a control device using a combination of a timer and a relay.
A predetermined time T _H during which the container A is immersed in warm water therein (referred to as a heat sterilization time), and a time required to transfer the container A from the heating tank 2 to the cooling tank 4 (referred to as a transition time)
A time input unit 16a for inputting T _M and a predetermined set time T _C for keeping the container A immersed in the cooling water in the cooling tank 4 (referred to as cooling time), a conveyor drive switch 50b, and a simulation Start switch 50c
And

Next, the operation of the heat sterilizer 1 and the operation of measuring the temperature of the container A will be described with reference to FIG. First,
The time input unit 16a of the operation unit 50, heat sterilization time required for the container A to be heat-sterilized T _H, and inputs the transition time T _M and the cooling time T _C. The simulation tank 12
A plurality of temperature measurement samples AT of the same type as the container A to be heat-sterilized are placed in the receiving basket 40 therein.

Then, in order to start the heat sterilization operation,
Turn on the conveyor drive switch 50b. When the conveyor drive switch 50b is turned on, the operation unit 50
A drive signal is input to the conveyor driving unit 6a, and the net conveyor 6 is continuously moved at a predetermined transport speed. The conveying speed of the net conveyor 6, the container A which is housed in a net conveyor 6, only during pasteurization time T _H is completely immersed in the hot water of the heating tank 2, from the heating tank 2 between the transition time T _M After being drawn out and transferred to the cooling tank 4, the cooling time T
_{Since the} speed is set so as to be completely immersed in the cooling water of the cooling tank 4 only during the period _C , many containers A contained in the net conveyor 6 are continuously heat-sterilized.

Then, at an arbitrary time t ₁ during the above-mentioned heat sterilization operation, the simulation start switch 50c is turned ON to perform the first temperature measurement. When the simulation start switch 50c is turned on, the operation unit 50 turns on the supply pump 18 of the water supply / drainage operation unit 14 and opens the control valve 32. With this operation, the inside of the small-capacity simulation tank 12 is immediately filled with hot water, and excess hot water is returned to the heating tank 2 via the overflow pipe 28. As a result, the simulation tank 12
The hot water in the heating tank 2 is continuously supplied and replaced, and the temperature condition of the hot water in the heating tank 2 becomes the same.

During the heating sterilization time T _H , the temperature measurement sample AT in the simulation tank 12 is immersed in warm water, and the temperature information of the temperature sensor 42 attached to the temperature measurement sample AT is sent to the temperature progress display section 52. The temperature information is displayed on the screen of the display and the temperature information is recorded on the recording paper of the temperature elapse recording unit 54. Then, the heat sterilization time T _H has elapsed, the operation unit 50, a plumbing operation unit 1
4 is turned off, and the control valve 32 is turned off.
Is closed, the drain pump 26 is turned on, and the control valve 36 is opened. By this operation,
The hot water in the simulation tank 12 is returned to the heating tank 2.

Next, when the transition time T _M has elapsed, the operation unit 50 turns off the drain pump 26 of the water supply / drain operation unit 14.
Then, the control valve 36 is closed, the supply pump 22 is turned on, and the control valve 34 is opened. With this operation, the inside of the small-capacity simulation tank 12 is immediately filled with the cooling water, and the excess cooling water is returned to the cooling tank 4 via the overflow pipe 30. Thereby, the cooling water in the cooling tank 4 is continuously supplied to the simulation tank 12 alternately, and the temperature condition of the cooling water is the same as that in the cooling tank 4.

During the cooling time T _C , the temperature measurement sample AT in the simulation tank 12 is immersed in cooling water, and the temperature information of the temperature sensor 42 attached to the temperature measurement sample AT is sent to the temperature progress display section 52. The temperature information is displayed on the screen of the display and the temperature information is recorded on the recording paper of the temperature elapse recording unit 54. And the cooling time T _C
Has elapsed, the operation unit 50 turns on the drain pump 26 for a certain period of time and opens the control valve 36. Then, the simulation start switch 50c is set to O
FF state.

When performing the second temperature measurement at another time t ₂ during the heat sterilization operation, another temperature measurement sample AT is placed on the receiving basket 40 in the simulation tank 12. And the simulation start switch 5 again
Turn 0c ON. Simulation start switch 50
When c is turned on, the operation unit 50 supplies the hot water of the heating tank 2 and the cooling water of the cooling tank 4 into the simulation tank 12 in the same operation as the above-described operation, and supplies the temperature measurement sample AT at that time. The temperature information of the mounted temperature sensor 42 is sent to the temperature progress display section 52 and displayed on the screen of the display, and the temperature information is recorded on the recording paper of the temperature progress recording section 54.

As described above, at any time during the heat sterilization operation using the heat sterilizer 1, the same type of container temperature measurement as the container A stored in the net conveyor 2 is performed in the small-capacity simulation tank 12. The sample AT is accommodated, and the warm water in the heating tank 2 and the cooling water in the cooling tank 4 of the heat sterilizer 1 are supplied to the simulation tank 1 in a short time.
2, the temperature of the container temperature measurement sample AT can be changed over time, so that it can be reproduced in the same environment as the container A in which heating and cooling is performed by the heat sterilizer 1,
The temperature change of the food enclosed in the container A can be continuously and accurately measured.

Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a food in which deterioration of taste is suppressed while performing necessary sterilization heating.
It becomes possible to carry out pasteurization heating at a lower temperature than the conventional medium temperature sterilization method. In addition, when changing conditions such as the type of food and the size and shape of the container, the sterilization temperature and the temperature can be easily and accurately adjusted by changing the container temperature measurement sample AT stored in the small-capacity simulation tank 12. Since the heating time and the like can be measured and quantified, data can be obtained in advance for various food sterilization conditions according to the size of the container for the target food.

Further, in the present embodiment, the operator can perform the heat sterilization operation while visually recognizing the temperature progress display section 52, so that a highly reliable heat sterilization method can be provided. . Further, since the temperature sensor 42 of the present embodiment is mounted on the container temperature measurement sample AT which is housed in the simulation tank 12 in a stationary state, the lead wire between the temperature sensor 42 and the measurement device is cut off, insulation failure, etc. Inconvenience does not occur.

Therefore, the present embodiment provides accurate and detailed information on the temperature at which the food in the container A accommodated in the net conveyor 6 and continuously moving through the heating tank 2 and the cooling tank 4 changes every moment. Obtainable.

[0033]

As described above, when the present invention is adopted, the food in the container can be removed even during the heat sterilization operation in which the container on the conveyor is continuously passing through the heating tank and the cooling tank. Temperature information that changes every moment can be accurately measured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a heat sterilization apparatus and a food temperature simulation measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a heat sterilization apparatus and a food temperature simulation measurement apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the heat sterilizer and the food temperature simulation measuring device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat sterilizer 2 Heat tank 4 Cooling tank 6 Net conveyor (transport conveyor) 6a Conveyor drive part 10 Food temperature simulation measuring device 12 Simulation tank 14 Supply / drain operation part 18 Supply pump 22 Supply pump 32, 34 Overflow control valve 36, 38 Control valve 42 temperature sensor (temperature measuring means) 50 operation unit 52 temperature history display portion (display portion) 54 temperature lapse recording unit (recording unit) A vessel AT temperature measurement sample T _H heat sterilization time T _M transition time T _C cooling time

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. The same environment as a heating / cooling machine in which a container enclosing a food is immersed in warm water for a predetermined time for heat sterilization, and then immersed in cooling water for a predetermined time for rapid cooling. A device for simulating and measuring the food temperature inside the container, comprising: a small-capacity simulation tank in which a temperature measurement sample, which is a container of the same type as the container, is placed; and And a temperature measuring means for measuring the food temperature inside, and a hot water supply / discharge operation unit connected to the simulation tank for supplying hot water or draining hot water from inside the simulation tank, and connected to the simulation tank. A cooling water supply / discharge operation unit for performing a cooling water supply operation or a cooling water drain operation from the simulation tank; The operation unit and the hot water supply / discharge operation unit are relatedly controlled so that the inside of the simulation tank is filled with hot water for a predetermined set time and subsequently filled with cooling water for a predetermined set time. A control unit for immersing the temperature measurement sample in the warm water or cooling water, and a display unit for displaying a temporal change in food temperature based on measurement information from the temperature measurement unit,
A food temperature simulation measurement device, comprising: a recording unit that records a temporal change in food temperature. 2. A disinfection / cooling machine that continuously passes a conveyor carrying a large number of containers containing food therein through a heating tank storing hot water and a cooling tank storing cooling water. First, it is immersed in warm water for a predetermined heat sterilization time in the heating tank, and then withdrawn from the heating tank for a predetermined transition time and moved toward the cooling tank, and then in the cooling tank. In the heat sterilization operation method of immersing in a cooling water for a predetermined cooling time, the hot water supply / discharge operation unit of the food temperature simulation measurement device according to claim 1 is connected to the heating tank,
And, the cooling water supply / discharge operation unit is connected to the cooling tank so that the hot water in the heating tank or the cooling water in the cooling tank can be supplied and drained into the simulation tank, and during the heat sterilization operation. In an arbitrary time zone, the control section controls the cooling water supply / discharge operation section and the hot water supply / discharge operation section to perform the heat sterilization in the simulation tank in which the temperature measurement sample is placed. Time, the hot water or the cooling water is supplied in the same time zone as the transition time and the cooling time, and the temperature of the food inside the temperature measurement sample is measured by the temperature measuring means. A heat sterilization operation method using a food temperature simulation measuring device, wherein the temperature is displayed on the display unit and the temporal change of the food temperature is recorded in a recording unit. 3. The controller according to claim 2, wherein the controller controls the time period between the time when the container accommodated and moved on the conveyor is immersed in the hot water in the heating tank and the time immediately before the container is pulled out from the hot water. 3. The heat sterilization operation method using the food temperature simulation measurement device according to claim 2, wherein the sterilization time is stored, and hot water is supplied into the simulation tank only during the heat sterilization time. 4. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller moves the container, which is accommodated and moved on the conveyor, from the time when the container is drawn out of the hot water in the heating tank to a time immediately before the container immerses in the cooling water in the cooling tank. The heat sterilization operation method using the food temperature simulation measurement device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein neither hot water nor cooling water is supplied into the simulation during the transition time. 5. The controller according to claim 1, wherein a time period from when the container, which is accommodated in the conveyor and moves, is immersed in the cooling water in the cooling tank to immediately before the container is drawn out from the cooling water. The heat sterilization operation method using the food temperature simulation measurement device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a cooling time is stored as the cooling time, and cooling water is supplied into the simulation tank only during the cooling time. .