JP2006050942A - Culture medium device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a culture medium device capable of simplifying work of sampling, capable of preventing test result of bacteria tests from causing dispersion, and therefore capable of accurately conducting the tests. <P>SOLUTION: This culture medium device has a plate-like tray part 12 equipped with a culture medium part 31 and a grip part 32, and further has a cover material for covering the tray part 12, wherein culture media 39 are formed on the culture medium part 31 by being made to correspond to test sections of a specimen. In this case, the bacteria tests with respect to a plurality of the test sections preliminarily set on a packaging material are conducted by using only one of the culture medium device, because the culture media 39 are formed on the culture medium part 31 by being made to correspond to the test sections of the specimen. Therefore, the work of the sampling is not only simplified, but also the test result of the bacteria tests is prevented from causing the dispersion, because the test sections are not varied at any time when the sampling is conducted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a culture apparatus.

  Conventionally, when manufacturing a food container such as tea, juice, soup, alcohol, etc., which has fluidity, i.e., a packaging container containing fluid food, a plate-like, web-like packaging material is used, A packaging container is formed by sealing a predetermined portion of the packaging material by a method such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing.

  For example, when using a plate-shaped packaging material, the packaging material is cut into a predetermined shape in advance, and is formed as blanks in which creases are made at predetermined locations. The blanks are bent along the crease to form a cylindrical blank carton, and then a bottomed carton having one end closed and the other end opened. Next, in the filling machine, the bottomed carton is filled with fluid food and the other end is closed to complete the packaging container.

  In addition, when using a web-like packaging material, in the filling machine, the packaging material is formed into a tube shape and sealed in the vertical direction by a vertical sealing device, and then the tube-shaped packaging material is filled with fluid food Then, the lateral seal device is used to seal and cut laterally at a predetermined interval to form a pillow-shaped original container, and the original container is further formed into a predetermined shape to complete the packaging container. Yes.

  By the way, when manufacturing the packaging container, plate-shaped packaging materials, web-shaped packaging materials, etc. are prepared in aseptic conditions, but it is confirmed whether the packaging materials are maintained in aseptic conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a fungus test on the packaging material.

  Also, in the food field, in order to confirm whether the cutting boards used and the production lines in the factory are maintained in a sterile state, the same bacteria test is performed on the cutting boards used and the production lines in the factory. There is a need to do.

  Therefore, a stamp medium is used to perform a fungus test on each packaging material, cutting board, production line, and the like. The stamp medium is formed by containing a medium agent such as gelatin or agar in a container having a stamp shape and solidifying the medium (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Then, when performing a bacterial test on a packaging material, cutting board, production line, etc. using the stamp culture medium, sampling is performed by pressing the culture medium surface of the stamp culture medium to a predetermined location on the packaging material, cutting board, production line, etc. Then, by incubating the stamp medium, the bacteria is inspected for the presence or absence of bacteria, the degree of contamination of packaging materials, cutting boards, production lines, and the like.
JP-A-6-189739

  However, in the above-mentioned conventional stamp medium, when performing a bacterial test at a plurality of locations such as a packaging material, a cutting board, a production line, etc., it is necessary to perform sampling by pressing the stamp culture medium at each location to be tested, that is, at each test location. Therefore, not only is the sampling operation cumbersome, but each time the sampling medium is pressed, if the test location where each stamp medium is pressed is different, the test results of the bacteria test vary, and an accurate test cannot be performed.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional stamp medium, simplifies the sampling operation, can suppress variation in the test results of the bacteria test, and performs an accurate test It is an object of the present invention to provide a culture apparatus that can handle the above.

  For this purpose, the culture medium apparatus of the present invention includes a flat tray portion having a culture medium portion and a grip portion, and a lid (lid) body for covering the tray portion.

  Then, a culture medium is formed in the culture medium portion so as to correspond to the examination location of the subject.

  In the other culture apparatus of the present invention, the tray section further includes a shallow housing section formed by a frame body and a bottom section.

  In still another culture apparatus of the present invention, the storage portion is further partitioned by a partition member.

  In still another culture apparatus of the present invention, a scale for measuring an inspection position by the culture section is formed in the grip portion.

  According to the present invention, the culture apparatus includes a flat tray portion having a culture portion and a gripping portion, and a lid for covering the tray portion.

  Then, a culture medium is formed in the culture medium portion so as to correspond to the examination location of the subject.

  In this case, since a culture medium is formed in the culture medium portion corresponding to the test site of the subject, the bacteria test is performed on a plurality of test sites set in advance on the test subject using only one media device. Can do. Therefore, not only can the sampling work be simplified, but the inspection location does not differ each time sampling is performed, so that it is possible to suppress variations in the test results of the bacteria test, and an accurate test can be performed. It can be carried out.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of blanks in the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the blank carton in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the blank carton in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the state folded.

  In FIG. 2, 15 is a blank formed by cutting a plate-shaped wrapping material. The blank 15 has a multilayer structure, and a paper base and a polyolefin base on the inside and the outside of the paper base. An innermost layer and an outermost layer formed by coating a resin film of resin are provided. If necessary, a gas barrier layer made of a gas barrier resin, aluminum foil, or the like can be formed between the paper base and the innermost layer.

  In the present embodiment, the blanks 15 are formed adjacent to each other in order to manufacture a gable top type packaging container, the first panel part P1, the second panel part P2, the third panel part P3, the fourth panel 15 being formed. It consists of the panel part P4, the 5th panel part P5, and the 6th panel part P6 formed protruding from the said 3rd panel part P3.

  And the first panel part P1 is a rectangular part a1 constituting the side wall of the packaging container, a rectangular part b1 constituting the inclined upper wall of the packaging container, a rectangular part c1 constituting the bottom wall of the packaging container, And a rectangular portion d1 constituting the ridge portion of the packaging container.

  The second panel part P2 includes a rectangular part a2 constituting the side wall of the packaging container, triangular parts e2, f2, g2 constituting the inclined upper wall of the packaging container, a triangular part h2 constituting the bottom wall of the packaging container, It consists of i2, j2, and rectangular parts k2, m2 constituting the ridge part of the packaging container.

  Further, the third panel portion P3 includes a rectangular portion a3 that constitutes a side wall of the packaging container, a rectangular portion b3 that constitutes an inclined upper wall of the packaging container, a rectangular portion c3 that constitutes a bottom wall of the packaging container, and a packaging container It consists of the rectangular part d3 which comprises a ridge part.

  The fourth panel portion P4 includes a rectangular portion a4 that constitutes the side wall of the packaging container, triangular portions e4, f4, and g4 that constitute the inclined upper wall of the packaging container, a triangular portion h4 that constitutes the bottom wall of the packaging container, i4, j4, and rectangular parts k4, m4 constituting the ridge part of the packaging container.

  Note that x is a mountain fold fold, and y is a valley fold fold. Lines z1 and z2 are valley folds for forming an opening when the packaging container is opened.

  In the blanks 15 having the above configuration, when the first panel portion P1 and the fifth panel portion P5 are fused, the blanks 15 are folded flat as shown in the figure to become a blank carton 16. And when it becomes the blank carton 16, the carton top part 22 is rectangular by the rectangular parts b1, b3, d1, d3, k2, k4, m2, m4 and the triangular parts e2, e4, f2, f4, g2, g4. The carton bottom portion 23 is configured by the portions c1, c3, the triangular portions h2, h4, i2, i4, j2, j4 and the sixth panel portion P6. 3 shows a state where the blank carton 16 has a square cross section, and FIG. 4 shows a state where the blank carton 16 is folded.

  And in manufacturing a packaging container, as shown in FIG. 3, the said blank carton 16 is set so that a cross section may become a rectangle and it is set in the mandrel which is not illustrated in that state.

  Subsequently, the carton bottom 23 is folded and sealed in a state where it is externally fitted to the mandrel, and a bottomed carton having one end closed and the other end opened is formed. The carton is removed from the mandrel and the liquid food is filled into the bottomed carton. Then, the carton top portion 22 of the bottomed carton is folded and sealed, the other end is closed, and the packaging container is completed.

  By the way, in manufacturing the packaging container, the blanks 15 in the unfolded state and the blank cartons 16 that are the flatly folded blanks are both prepared in a sterile state. In order to confirm whether the blanks 15 and the blank carton 16 are maintained in a sterilized state, the blanks 15 and the blank carton 16 are used as specimens, and a bacteria test is performed.

  In the case of the blank carton 16, the blank carton 16 is opened from the opening on the carton top portion 22 side or the carton bottom portion 23 side while being placed in a flatly folded state before being set on the mandrel as shown in FIG. A medium device (not shown) is inserted therein, and a plurality of inspection points set in advance on the inner peripheral surface of the blank carton 16 are pressed against the medium surface of the medium device. On the other hand, in the case of the blanks 15, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of blanks 15 are stacked in a deployed state, and a predetermined blanks 15 of the plurality of blanks 15 is taken out and placed on the medium surface of the medium apparatus. A plurality of preset inspection locations are pressed on the inner peripheral surface of the blanks 15.

  Next, the culture apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tray portion of a culture apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a lid in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the culture apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view.

  In the figure, 11 is a medium device, 12 is a flat tray portion, 13 is a lid for covering the tray portion 12, and the lid 13 is detachably disposed on the tray portion 12. The tray section 12 and the lid body 13 are made of a polymer material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) so that they can be recycled, and can be manufactured by allowing the polymer material to flow into a mold. In addition, it can replace with a polyethylene terephthalate as a polymeric material, and can use polyethylene, a polypropylene, etc.

  The tray unit 12 includes a medium part 31 having a rectangular shape, and a grip part 32 that is thinner than the medium part 31 and formed integrally with the medium part 31, and the medium part 31 has a rectangular shape. The frame 33 and the shallow storage part 35 formed by the bottom part 34 are provided, and a culture medium 39 having an area corresponding to the inspection location set in advance in the blanks 15 (FIG. 2) is formed in the storage part 35. The The grip portion 32 includes a frame body 67 formed at the same height as the frame body 33, and a bottom portion 68 surrounded by the frame body 67.

By the way, in this Embodiment, the area of the said culture-medium part 31 is set to 100 [cm < ² >]. In the conventional stamp medium, the area of the surface to be brought into contact with the surface of the subject to be sampled should be 24 to 30 [cm ² ] (“Japanese Pharmacopoeia Manual” published by Yodogawa Shoten, 2001, F- 159-160, ISO 14698-1: 2003), and most of them are set to 25 [cm ² ]. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the line n is formed so that the bottom of the accommodating portion 35 is divided into four. As a result, the conditions are the same as those obtained by collecting four stamp culture media having an area of 25 [cm ² ], and this also corresponds to the Japanese Pharmacopoeia and ISO.

  In addition, the housing portion 35 includes at least one longitudinally extending member, in the present embodiment, two first partition members 36, and at least one extending transversely across the first partition member 36. In the present embodiment, it is partitioned by the two second partition members 37, and a plurality of partitioned regions having nine rectangular shapes in the present embodiment are formed.

  The medium 39 is formed by allowing a medium agent such as gelatin or agar to flow into the accommodating portion 35 and solidifying the medium 39. As described above, the first and second partition members 36 and 37 are formed by the medium 39. Since it is formed by projecting upward from the bottom 34 and the medium agent before solidifying is prevented from moving between the partition regions, it is possible to prevent the medium agent from flowing out of the accommodating portion 35.

  In this case, the first and second partition members 36 and 37 are formed so as to be lower than the frame 33, but when the medium agent is allowed to flow, the surface of the medium agent is placed on the first and second partition members. When lower than 36 and 37, nine independent culture media are formed by the medium flowed into each compartment area, and when the surface of the medium is higher than the first and second partition members 36 and 37, the common One medium 39 is formed.

  The first and second partition members 36 and 37 constitute ribs formed to protrude upward from the bottom portion 34 and are arranged in a lattice shape to reinforce the tray portion 12. In addition, a partition member coupling portion 61 that constitutes a common part of the frame bodies 33 and 67 is formed at a connection portion that couples the culture medium portion 31 and the grip portion 32 in the tray portion 12, and the culture medium portion of the partition member coupling portion 61 is formed. A wave-like portion 62 composed of a plurality of irregularities is formed on the edge portion on the 31st side, and an elliptical recessed portion 63 is formed at two locations adjacent to the grip portion 32 of the partition member coupling portion 61, and the partition member A step 64 is formed at the corner of the coupling portion 61. Therefore, the partition member coupling portion 61 can be sufficiently reinforced, and the stress generated when the grip portion 32 is gripped can be dispersed.

  In addition, as the medium agent, those corresponding to the bacterial species to be inspected are used. For example, when general bacteria, Escherichia coli, coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, fungi, etc. are inspected, each bacterial species A medium that can be tested is selected.

  And in the said holding | gripping part 32, in the upper surface or lower surface (in this Embodiment, upper surface) of the bottom part 68, for measuring the test | inspection position by the culture medium part 31, for example in the blank carton 16 (FIG. 3) A scale 41 for measuring the insertion depth when the tray portion 12, particularly the culture medium portion 31 is inserted, is formed. Therefore, the length of the grip 32 that protrudes outward from the edge of the carton top portion 22 side or the carton bottom portion 23 side of the blank carton 16 can be known by reading the scale 41, and the length Based on this, the insertion depth by the culture medium part 31 can be measured.

  Further, a cloudy (textured) description region 66 is formed adjacent to the scale 41 on the upper surface or the lower surface (the upper surface in the present embodiment) of the bottom 68. In the description area 66, the name of the subject can be described, or a label on which the name of the subject is described can be attached. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a difference between the subject and the test result from occurring.

  The lid body 13 has a shape and dimensions that can cover the entire tray section 12, and is formed by a frame body 45 and a top section 46 that have the same shape as the tray section 12. Since the frame body 45 is formed so as to protrude slightly upward from the top portion 46, the tray portion 12 may come off beyond the frame body 45 when the tray portion 12 is placed on the lid body 13. Disappear. Therefore, a plurality of medium devices 11 can be stably stacked.

  Further, the tray portion 12 has recesses 71 (only two recesses 71 are shown in the figure) as first locking portions at four locations on the outer surface of the frame 33. Concave portions 72 (only two concave portions 72 are shown in the figure) are formed as second locking portions at two locations on the outer surface. On the other hand, in the lid body 13, a convex portion 73 as a first locked portion is formed on the inner surface of the frame body 45 in correspondence with the concave portion 71. A convex portion 74 is formed as a locked portion. Therefore, the lid 13 can be engaged / disengaged with respect to the tray portion 12 by engaging / disengaging the concave portion 71 and the convex portion 73 and engaging / disengaging the concave portion 72 and the convex portion 74. In this case, even if an external force is applied to the lid 13, the lid 13 is not easily detached from the tray portion 12, so that the sealing performance in the culture medium device 11 can be improved.

  In addition, in order to prevent the tray section 12 and the lid body 13 from being deformed when a plurality of medium devices 11 are stacked, the outer edges of the frame bodies 33 and 67 are directed outward. It can be formed by protruding a 5 mm brim. In this case, when a flange of 0.5 [mm] protrudes outward along the lower edge of the frame body 45 and the lid body 13 is engaged with the tray portion 12, Since the flanges of the frame body 45 are placed on and overlap the flanges of the frame bodies 33 and 67, the reinforcing effect can be improved.

  By the way, when the lid body 13 is engaged with the tray part 12, the whole tray part 12 is covered, and not only the medium part 31 but also the upper surface of the grip part 12 is sealed. Therefore, before using the culture apparatus 11, for example, after forming a sterilized state by irradiating gamma rays, it is possible to prevent bacteria from entering the culture apparatus 11.

  A protruding piece 75 as a first protruding portion is formed at the end of the grip portion 32, and a protruding piece 76 as a second protruding portion is formed at a position adjacent to the protruding piece 75 of the lid 13. . Accordingly, the lid body 13 can be easily removed from the tray section 12 by placing a finger on the protruding pieces 75 and 76 and pushing the lid body 13 upward and the tray section 12 downward.

  Next, a method of using the culture medium device 11 having the above configuration will be described. In this case, a case where the blank carton 16 is the subject will be described.

  First, with the lid 13 removed, the grip portion 32 is gripped, and the tray portion 12, in particular, the culture medium portion 31 is inserted into the blank carton 16 from the opening of the blank carton 16 with a predetermined insertion depth. At this time, each culture medium region of the tray unit 12 and a plurality of inspection points set in advance in the blanks 15 are opposed to each other. The thickness and length of the tray portion 12 are set so that the tray portion 12 can be sufficiently inserted into the blank carton 16.

  Subsequently, when a portion corresponding to each medium region is pressed from the outer surface of the blank carton 16, the respective inspection points are pressed against the medium surface of each medium 39, and sampling is performed.

  Next, the tray part 12 is pulled out from the blank carton 16, covered with the lid 13, the medium apparatus 11 is set in a culture vessel (not shown), and the medium 39 is cultured at a predetermined culture temperature and a predetermined culture time. Therefore, it can test | inspect about the presence or absence of the microbe of the blank carton 16, the grade of the contamination of the blank carton 16, etc.

  In this case, the bacteria to be tested are classified into various types such as general bacteria, Escherichia coli, coliform group, Staphylococcus aureus, and mold, and the culture temperature and the culture time are set for each type. The presence or absence of bacteria can be determined by counting bacterial colonies with the naked eye. Further, the grown colonies can be fished and the bacteria can be identified by looking at the surface of the medium with a microscope.

  As described above, since the bacteria test can be performed for a plurality of test points set in advance in the blanks 15 by using only one medium device 11, not only the sampling operation can be simplified, but also the sampling can be performed. Since the test location does not differ every time the test is performed, it is possible to suppress variation in the test result of the bacteria test.

  By the way, in this Embodiment, although the case where a microbe test | inspection was performed about the plate-shaped blanks 15 for manufacturing a gable top type packaging container and the blank carton 16 was demonstrated, for manufacturing a brick type packaging container Bacteria inspection can also be performed on web-like packaging materials.

  The brick-type packaging container is a filling machine in which a web-like packaging material is formed into a tube shape and sealed in a vertical direction by a vertical sealing device, and then the tube-shaped packaging material is filled with a fluid food while being laterally filled. It is completed by sealing and cutting laterally at a predetermined interval by a sealing device, forming a pillow-shaped original container, and further forming the original container into a predetermined shape.

  In that case, in the filling machine, the web-shaped packaging material is set on a feeding machine in a state of being wound in a reel shape, fed out by the feeding machine, and conveyed by a feeding device.

  Therefore, when the bacteria inspection is performed on the web-shaped packaging material, the reel-shaped packaging material is cut out from the outermost peripheral surface by a predetermined amount with a knife or the like. In the present embodiment, from the outermost peripheral surface of the reel-shaped packaging material, a predetermined length in the circumferential direction, for example, 30 [cm], a predetermined number of sheets from the outermost peripheral surface toward the radially inner side, For example, 30 to 50 sheets are cut out. Therefore, 30 to 50 specimens having a length equal to that of the packaging material having a length of 30 [cm] can be obtained.

  Subsequently, the bacteria test can be carried out by pressing the tray portion 12 against a predetermined number of the inner sides from the outermost peripheral surface among the respective subjects.

  In each of the embodiments described above, blanks 15 and blank cartons 16, reel-shaped packaging material cut pieces, and the like are used as specimens, but cutting boards used in the food field, lines in factories, and the like. Can be the subject.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

It is a perspective view which shows the tray part of the culture apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of blanks in an embodiment of the invention. It is a perspective view which shows the blank carton in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state which folded the blank carton in embodiment of this invention flat. It is a perspective view which shows the cover body in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the culture apparatus in an embodiment of the invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Medium apparatus 12 Tray part 13 Cover body 15 Blanks 16 Blank carton 31 Medium part 32 Grasp part 33 Frame part 34 Bottom part 35 Storage part 36, 37 1st, 2nd division member 39 Medium 41 Scale

Claims (4)

(A) a plate-like tray section provided with a culture medium section and a gripping section;
(B) having a lid for covering the tray portion;
(C) A culture medium device, wherein a culture medium is formed in the culture medium part in correspondence with the examination location of the subject.   The culture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray portion includes a shallow housing portion formed by a frame body and a bottom portion.   The culture apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the accommodating portion is partitioned by a partition member. The medium apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a scale for measuring an inspection position by the medium part is formed on the grip part.

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