JP2006098034A - Freshness holding method for meat, fresh fish, daily dish, paste and produce, and multi-stage cold storage open case - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a freshness holding system for a food group by a multi-stage open case capable of holing freshness of meat, fresh fish, a daily dish, paste, and produce, capable of decomposition-removing deterioration promoting gas generated by self in order to keep hygienic, and a diffusion-floating object generated in a holding chamber, and capable of making constant a temperature of the holding chamber and a temperature of the storage article. <P>SOLUTION: In this system, fan motors 2, 3 are installed in a multi-system (double air curtain and proper cold air diffusion from a backface) of high humidity not generating temperature unevenness in the holding chamber to enhance constancy of the temperature of the holding chamber and the temperature of the storage article, and the freshness is held by adsorbing ethylene gas and by removing a floating micro-organism with a photocatalytic effect to control the temperature of the holding chamber constant, without being affected by a peripheral environment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a method for efficiently decomposing organic substances that promote food deterioration of meat, fresh fish, prepared dishes, pastes, and fruits and vegetables. It also relates to a freshness-preserving multi-stage refrigerated open case using this method.

Background art and issues

It is necessary to prevent the food group from being deteriorated at the sales stage of meat, fresh fish, prepared dishes, pastes, and fruits and vegetables. Although it is reduced in processing and logistics, the problem still remains unsolved in the surrounding environment in the open showcase.

Usually, a refrigerator uses a photocatalyst to adsorb ethylene gas to increase the food storage safety. However, in the refrigerated open case, ultraviolet lamps are not used because they cause discoloration of the product.

There is a demand for a method for maintaining the aesthetics and freshness of food by continuously decomposing gas and other diffused substances that promote self-corruption and preventing the corruption of other foods in an open case.

How to solve the problem

The present invention has found that a combination of a photocatalytic filter and ultraviolet light can be combined with a dual structure of cold air flow to efficiently decompose ethylene gas and other diffused substances and maintain the freshness of food for a long period of time.

That is, the present invention is a multistage refrigerated open case for decomposing ethylene gas and suspended matter generated from food and maintaining the freshness of meat, fresh fish, side dishes, kneaded fruits and vegetables, and a purification structure comprising a photocatalytic filter and an ultraviolet light source A multi-stage refrigerated open case that is a double structure consisting of a holding chamber where cold air flows on the top of the cabinet, between the storage rooms, and on the floor.

In the method for maintaining the freshness of meat, fresh fish, side dish, kneaded vegetables and fruits according to the present invention, a photocatalytic filter (incorporated with a UV lamp) generates oxygen-level reactive oxygen species with oxygen and water, and oxidizes organic substances in the vicinity. To do. As the cold air circulates, many nano-level reactive oxygen species are generated. At the same time, adsorption of ethylene gas and suspended solids increases, and organic substances in the food holding chamber are efficiently removed.

Examples of the support for the photocatalyst include a glass fiber filter (incorporated with a UV lamp) manufactured by Nippon Inorganic Co., Ltd.

Maintaining the freshness of meat, fresh fish, side dishes, paste, fruits and vegetables The multi-stage refrigerated open case consists of a purification structure consisting of a photocatalytic filter member (incorporated with a UV lamp) and a holding chamber where cold air flows through the top of the cabinet, storage space, and floor. A double structure is used. Cold air is constantly circulated between the storage space and the purification structure, and organic substances generated from the food inside are oxidized by the photocatalyst in the purification structure. Due to the double structure, the temperature / humidity distribution in the holding chamber is uniform and condensation is avoided, and ultraviolet rays that affect fruits and vegetables are completely excluded. An organic substance such as ethylene gas in the holding chamber can be passed through the double-structured floor into a fresh gas from the purification structure and reach the entire holding chamber.
Example

A 6-scale (1770 mm) multi-stage refrigerated open case (1) and a 6-scale (1770 mm) multi-stage refrigerated complete double structure open showcase (2) were prepared. The storage temperature of the strawberry was tested under conditions in which the ambient temperature outside the box was set to 27 ° C., the holding chamber was set within the range of −3 ° C. to + 2 ° C., and the gas inside was circulated. In the case of (2) by visual judgment, the freshness was maintained for 20 days. With regard to hardness, increased from 0.8 kgf / cm ² to 0.85 kgf / cm ² after 3 days, the freshness is maintained until lowered after 20 days 0.75kgf / cm ^2. On the other hand, in the case of (1), after 3 days, it decreased to 0.65 kgf / cm ^{2, and} it was found that the freshness was lowered due to visual damage.

above

(1) and (2) open showcases were prepared. In the case of (2), the storage stability test of roses was performed under the condition that the inside of the holding chamber was set to 8 ° C. and the gas inside was circulated. The freshness was maintained visually for 30 days. The relative humidity at this time was 83%. With respect to the hardness of the rose bud, 0.9kgf / cm ² has continued to maintain the hardness until the fall after 30 days 0.85kgf / cm ^2. On the other hand, in the case of (1), it was found that the freshness dropped in 3 days. With respect to the hardness of the flower rose bud, was down from 0.9kgf / cm ² to 0.75kgf / cm ² after 3 days.

above

(1) and (2) open showcases were prepared. The holding chamber was set within the range of -3 ° C to + 1 ° C, and the storage stability test of strips of this tuna from Oma, Aomori Prefecture was conducted under the condition of circulating the gas inside. In the case of (2) by visual judgment, the freshness was maintained for 8 days. The product temperature of this tuna was maintained at + 2 ° C. for 8 days. On the other hand, in the case of (1), it was found that the freshness dropped after 2 days.

above

(2) open showcase was prepared. The holding chamber was set within a range of −3 ° C. to + 4 ° C., and the antibacterial effect of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was tested under conditions where the gas inside was circulated. 24 hours later, the number of E. coli decreased to 4.3 × 10 ⁵ → 10 or less, and that of S. aureus decreased to 2.9 × 10 ⁵ → 10 or less.

above

(2) open showcase was prepared. The holding chamber was set within the range of -3 ° C to + 4 ° C. Thereafter, 5 ml of ethylene gas was injected using a syringe to obtain a high-humidity gas containing 100 ppm of ethylene gas. The residual amount of ethylene gas in the holding chamber was measured with a gas detector tube. The ethylene gas concentration, which was 70 ppm at the start of the test, decreased to 50 ppm in 3 hours, decreased to 28 ppm in 6 hours, decreased to 10 ppm in 12 hours, and completely disappeared in 22 hours.

Multistage refrigerated open showcase

Explanation of symbols

(1) Large cooling coil (2) Inner layer fan motor (3) Outer layer fan motor (4) Power terminal BOX (5) Heat reclaim air vent (6) Suction port / photocatalytic filter (built-in UV lamp)

Claims (5)

It is a multistage refrigerated open case that decomposes the diffusion suspended matter generated from meat, fresh fish, side dishes, kneaded fruits and vegetables, and maintains the freshness of the food group, with a purification structure comprising a photocatalyst filter and an ultraviolet light source and multistage refrigeration Fresh case-keeping multi-stage refrigerated open case characterized by a double structure consisting of a holding chamber through which cool air flows to the upper case, chick shelf, and floor. 2. The freshness-preserving multistage refrigerated open case according to claim 1, wherein both the uppermost stage and the floor of the multistage refrigerated open case have a double structure. The freshness-preserving multi-stage refrigerated open case according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interior painted surface is coated with a photocatalyst for antibacterial use. The multistage refrigerated open case according to claim 3, wherein a member whose surface is coated with a photocatalyst is used. A method for maintaining the freshness of meat, fresh fish, side dishes, kneaded fruits and vegetables, wherein the proliferation of germs from inside and outside the chamber is suppressed by a photocatalyst under relative humidity, and the diffusion suspended matter is decomposed.

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