JP2002253186A - Tray for retort sterilization - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a strain caused in partition plates with thermal expansion of the partition plates in a tray for retort sterilization having the partition plates. SOLUTION: This tray 5 for the retort sterilization made of a metal is equipped with a bottom plate 1, edge parts 1a and 2 stood on the periphery thereof and the partition plates 6 extendedly installed so as to divide the edge parts 1a and 2 on the bottom plate 1 and connected to the edge parts 1a and 2 at both ends. The tray 5 for the retort sterilization is characterized by providing a means 6c for preventing the strain in the partition plates 6 caused with the thermal expansion of the partition plates 6 in connecting parts of the edge parts 1a and 2 to the partition plates 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retort sterilization tray used for retort sterilization.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tray for retort sterilization (hereinafter, abbreviated as a tray) is used for retort sterilization of a package in which articles such as food are sealed in a bag or a container. And a structure as shown in FIG. In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a rectangular metal bottom plate.
The side of the bottom plate 1 is bent upward to form a wall 1a. Further, the bottom plate 1 is formed with a plurality of openings 1b serving as water passage ports at the time of sterilization. Reference numeral 2 denotes a metal frame that stands upright around the bottom plate 1. The frame 2 has a U-shaped cross section that is concave outward, and the opposing side surfaces of the wall 1a and the frame 2 are connected to each other. Are connected to form a tray 3 having the wall 1a and the frame 2 as edges. At the time of sterilization, a plurality of trays 3 on which the above-mentioned package is placed on the bottom plate 1 are stacked and stored in a retort sterilization apparatus, and sterilization is performed with high-temperature steam.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional tray 3 has the following problems, for example. That is, when manufacturing the above-mentioned package, a so-called hot pack in which the article is sealed in a bag or a container in a heated state is generally used.However, the package after the hot pack generates some heat even before retort sterilization. Have. Therefore, when the package after the hot pack is placed on the bottom plate 1, the bottom plate 1
Of these, only the contact portion with the package is locally heated and thermally expanded. On the other hand, since the frame 2 does not thermally expand,
Lateral direction of thermally expanded bottom plate 1 (direction indicated by arrow A in FIG. 8)
In some cases, the expansion of the bottom plate 1 is suppressed by the frame 2 and the bottom plate 1 is distorted up and down. Further, even after the retort sterilization, the portion of the bottom plate 1 that contacts the package is cooled later than the other portions, so that only the contact portion locally thermally expands, and the bottom plate 1 moves up and down. Was sometimes distorted.

[0004] When the bottom plate 1 is distorted vertically, the packages placed on the trays 3 stacked in multiple stages are sandwiched from above and below by the vertically distorted bottom plates 1, and as a result, the bottom plate 1 is placed on the surface of the package. There is a problem that the appearance and airtightness of the package are impaired, for example, due to the formation of marks and the formation of pinholes. Further, when the package is sandwiched between the bottom plate 1 from above and below, there is also a problem that cooling of the sandwiched package is delayed as compared with other packages, and the quality of the product varies.

In order to solve the above problem, the present inventors disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-206353, for example, FIG.
And a tray 4 having the structure shown in FIG. In the tray 4, the wall 1 a is gradually approached to the frame 2 as it goes upward, and the upper end of the wall 1 a is connected to the side surface of the frame 2 facing. In this tray 4, the wall 1
Since a space as shown by an arrow B in FIG. 10 is formed between a and the frame 2, even when the bottom plate 1 is thermally expanded relatively to the frame 2, The extension in the horizontal direction is absorbed in the space B, and the distortion of the bottom plate 1 in the vertical direction is prevented.

However, when the trays 3 and 4 are partitioned by a partition plate for the purpose of preventing lateral displacement and overlap of the package, and when the package is placed on the bottom plate 1 partitioned by the partition plate, the partition plate may be damaged. When in contact with the package, as in the case of the bottom plate 1, the portion of the partition plate that contacts the package becomes relatively hot and thermally expands, and as a result, the partition plate is distorted to the left and right. There was an inconvenience. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, in a tray having a partition plate,
It is an object of the present invention to prevent distortion generated in a partition plate due to thermal expansion of the partition plate.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a bottom plate, an edge standing upright around the bottom plate, and extending on the bottom plate so as to partition between the edges, and having the edge at both ends. A tray connected to the metal tray, wherein a means for preventing generation of distortion in the partition plate due to thermal expansion of the partition plate at a connection portion between the edge portion and the partition plate. It is characterized by having.

[0008] In this case, it is preferable that a bent portion is formed at an end of the partition plate so as to face the side surface of the edge portion and gradually approach the edge portion toward the front end side. And connected to the side surface of the opposite edge,
In a space sandwiched between the side surface of the bent portion and the side surface of the edge portion opposed to the bent portion, the expansion due to the thermal expansion of the partition plate is absorbed, and distortion of the partition plate due to the thermal expansion of the partition plate is reduced. Prevent occurrence.

Further, the edge portion is formed by bending a frame body erected around the bottom plate and a side portion of the bottom plate upward so as to face a side surface of the frame body. A wall portion gradually approaching the frame body, when the upper end of the wall portion is connected to the side surface of the frame body facing,
At the intersection of the wall and the partition plate, a cutout is formed to cut off the wall to prevent contact with the partition plate,
It is desirable to connect the partition plate to the frame via the cutout.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, members having the same configuration as the trays 3 and 4 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 7 to 10, and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the structure of a tray according to the present invention. In the tray 5, like the tray 3 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the opposing side surfaces of the wall 1 a and the frame 2 are connected. Further, metal partition plates 6 are respectively extended between the two pairs of opposed wall portions 1a, and the inside of the tray 5 is partitioned into four sections by these partition plates 6. The partition plate 6 is a rod-shaped member having an L-shaped cross section. One side surface 6a is opposed to the bottom plate 1 and the other side surface 6b is a bottom plate 1
And extends vertically between the opposed wall portions 1a in a state where the wall portions 1a face each other. Here, the reason why the cross section of the partition plate 6 is L-shaped is that the bending strength of the partition plate 6 is improved by making the cross section L-shaped.

The partition plate 6 is supported by the wall portion 1a by connecting bent portions (means for preventing occurrence of distortion in the partition plate) 6c formed at both ends to the side surface of the wall portion 1a. . FIG. 2 shows the structure of the connecting portion between the wall 1a and the partition plate 6. As shown in FIG. The bent portion 6c is bent so as to face the side surface of the wall portion 1a to be connected, and gradually approaches the wall portion 1a toward the distal end side, and opposes at its distal end as shown by an arrow C in FIG. It is connected to the side surface of the wall 1a by a method such as welding. As shown by an arrow D in FIG. 2, a space is formed between the side surface of the bent portion 6c and the side surface of the opposing wall portion 1a.

Further, the partition plates 6 intersect at the center of the tray 5 as shown by an arrow E in FIG. The structure of the intersection of the partition plate 6 is shown in FIGS. At one of the side surfaces 6a of the partition plate 6 located at the intersection at the upper side, the intersection with the one side surface 6a of the partition plate 6 located at the lower side is notched over a wider area than the width F of the one side surface 6a. 6d is formed. Further, in the other side surface 6b of the partition plate 6 located above, a portion of the lower side located at the intersection with the other side surface 6b of the partition plate 6 is notched over a wider area than the thickness G of the other side surface 6b. The groove 6e is formed downward.

On the other hand, in the other side surface 6b of the partition plate 6 located below, the groove 6 formed by notching over a wider area than the thickness G of the other side surface 6b is provided at the intersection with the groove 6e.
f is formed upward. Here, the grooves 6e,
The depth of 6f is set in advance so that the sum of the depths of the grooves 6e and 6f is larger than the height of the other side surface 6b. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, when the two partition plates intersect, the two partition plates 6 come into contact with each other at the same height via the cutouts 6d and the grooves 6e and 6f. Intersect without doing.

According to the tray 5 having the above configuration, the space D is formed between the side surface of the bent portion 6c and the side surface of the wall portion 1a.
Is formed, even if the partition plate 6 becomes relatively high in temperature due to contact with the package or the like and thermally expands, the extension of the partition plate 6 due to the thermal expansion is absorbed by the space D, Generation of distortion in the partition plate 6 is prevented. Further, since the two intersecting partition plates 6 do not contact each other, even when the two partition plates 6 are extended by thermal expansion, interference between the partition plates 6 at the intersection and the accompanying partition plates 6 are caused.
Is prevented from occurring.

FIG. 5 shows another example of the structure of the tray according to the present invention.
And FIG. 9 and FIG.
Similarly to the tray 4 shown in FIG. 0, the wall 1a gradually approaches the frame 2 as it goes upward, and the upper end of the wall 1a is connected to the side surface of the frame 2 facing the same. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a cutout portion 1 c is formed at the intersection of the wall portion 1 a and the partition plate 6 to cut out the wall portion 1 a to prevent contact with the partition plate 6. The bent portion 6c formed at the end protrudes toward the frame 2 beyond the wall 1a via the notch 1c,
As shown by an arrow H in FIG. 6, the distal end of the bent portion 6c is connected to a side surface of the opposed frame body 2 by a method such as welding.
As shown by an arrow J in FIG. 6, a space is formed between the side surface of the bent portion 6c and the opposite side surface of the frame 2. Other configurations are the same as those of the tray 5 shown in FIGS.

According to the tray 7 having the above-described structure, since the space J is formed between the side surface of the bent portion 6c and the side surface of the frame 2, the partition plate 6 is brought into contact with the package or the like.
Is relatively high temperature and thermally expanded, the extension of the partition plate 6 due to the thermal expansion is absorbed by the space J,
Generation of distortion in the partition plate 6 is prevented. In addition, wall part 1
a and the partition plate 6 are prevented from contacting by the notch portion 1c. Therefore, even when the bottom plate 1 and the partition plate 6 are each extended by thermal expansion, the interference between the bottom plate 1 and the partition plate 6 and the accompanying bottom plate 1 And the partition plate 6 is prevented from being distorted. Furthermore, since the bent portion 6c protrudes toward the frame 2 via the notch 1c, the bent portion 6 does not contribute to the support of the package.
There is also an effect that the c is not exposed on the bottom 1 and the support of the package by the partition plate 6 is more effectively performed. Other effects are the same as those of the tray 5 shown in FIGS.

It is needless to say that the specific shapes and the like of the members constituting the trays 5 and 7 can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the partition plate 6 can be supported on the bottom plate 1 by bolts 8. In this case, in order to prevent interference between the bottom plate 1 and the partition plate 6 due to the bolt 8, a hole (not shown) having a diameter larger than the diameter of the bolt 8 and smaller than the head of the bolt 8 is formed in one side surface 6a of the partition plate 6. .), And the partition plate 6 is supported on the bottom plate 1 by the bolts 8 inserted into the holes.
With such a configuration, the bottom plate 1 and the partition plate 6
Even if each of them is elongated by thermal expansion, the interference between the bottom plate 1 and the partition plate 6 via the bolt 8 is prevented by the gap formed between the bolt 8 and the hole, and the bottom plate 1 and the partition due to the interference are prevented. Generation of distortion between the plates 6 is prevented.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a tray having a partition plate, the partition plate is formed at the connecting portion between the edge of the tray and the partition plate due to the thermal expansion of the partition plate. By providing the means for preventing the distortion, the generation of the distortion in the partition plate due to the thermal expansion of the partition plate and the accompanying adverse effect on the package are prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view showing an example of the structure of a tray according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a structure of a connecting portion between a wall portion and a partition plate in the tray of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing an exploded structure of an intersection of a partition plate in the tray of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a structure of an intersection of a partition plate in the tray of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view showing an example of the structure of the tray according to the present invention.

6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a structure of a connecting portion between a frame and a partition plate in the tray of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows an example of the structure of a conventional tray, indicated by an arrow V in FIG.
It is a top view along II.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the structure of a conventional tray in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which followed the I-VIII line.

FIG. 9 is a top view showing an example of the structure of a conventional tray, taken along arrow IX in FIG.

10 shows an example of the structure of a conventional tray.
It is sectional drawing along X-ray.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 bottom plate 1a wall (edge) 1c cutout 2 frame (edge) 5, 7 (for retort sterilization) tray 6 partition 6c bent part (means for preventing generation of distortion in partition) D, J space

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takafumi Someya 1-46-1 Nihombashi Bakurocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Fujimori Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masaki Nose 1-3604 Ryokawa, Niigata City, Niigata Pref. F-term (reference) 4B021 LA05 LT02 LT04 4B055 AA29 BA13 CA01 CA73 CB01 CB03 CC25

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A bottom plate, an edge standing upright around the bottom plate, and a partition plate extending on the bottom plate to partition between the edges and connected to the edge at both ends. A metal retort sterilization tray comprising: a connecting portion between the edge portion and the partition plate, wherein a means for preventing occurrence of distortion in the partition plate due to thermal expansion of the partition plate is provided. Tray for retort sterilization. 2. A bent portion is formed at an end portion of the partition plate so as to face a side surface of the edge portion and gradually approach the edge portion toward a tip end side, and the tip end of the bent portion faces the edge portion. While being connected to the side of the edge, the space between the side of the bent portion and the side of the edge opposite to the side of the edge absorbs the extension due to the thermal expansion of the partition, and the thermal expansion of the partition 2. The tray for retort sterilization according to claim 1, wherein distortion of the partition plate caused by the above is prevented. 3. The frame according to claim 1, wherein the edge portion is formed by bending a frame body erected around the bottom plate and a side portion of the bottom plate upward so as to face a side surface of the frame body. A wall portion gradually approaching the frame body, and an upper end of the wall portion is connected to a side surface of the opposed frame body, and the wall portion is cut out at an intersection of the wall portion and the partition plate. The tray for retort sterilization according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a notch for preventing contact with the partition plate is formed, and the partition plate is connected to the frame via the notch.