JP2008265781A - Packaging/filling device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a packaging/filling device inhibiting/reducing intrusion of bacteria, and minimizing adverse effects on the contents caused by modification of protein and deterioration of oil and aroma chemicals of the content, by sterilizing the entire package container to sterilize seal defects, cracks of packaging material, and also to provide a packaging/filling method. <P>SOLUTION: The packaging/filling device is used for making a package container formed of a laminated material 1 including the plastic outermost layer, a paper base layer, and a sealant layer, and is sealed after filled with fluid food. The device includes a heated water tank 30 for heating the entire package container from outside at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to sterilize the stacked package containers 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for sterilizing containers filled with liquid foods such as oral nutrition liquid foods, soups, sauces, soy milk, fruit juices, and milk beverages.

When filling and packaging liquid foods such as soup, fruit juice, and dairy drinks, the liquid foods are usually sterilized, the containers are sterilized, and each is packaged and filled in an aseptic environment.
For example, in the case of milk, raw milk is mixed with many microorganisms, and raw milk is an excellent breeding source for these microorganisms, and it is necessary to sterilize, cool and refrigerate to suppress the breeding. .
The above-mentioned milk sterilization method is a method that is sterilized by heating for 30 minutes between 62 degrees Celsius and 65 degrees Celsius, or a sterilizing effect equivalent to or higher than that of the Ministry of Health and Welfare It must be sterilized by heating. " As the sterilization method, there are methods such as a low temperature holding sterilization method, an HTST sterilization method, and a UHT heat sterilization method.

In the packaging filling method to obtain tofu by filling soy milk, add calcium source to soy milk, cool after heat sterilization, add coagulant and mix, then fill into container and aseptically sealed, finally fill into container The soymilk is solidified to obtain tofu. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.)
Japanese Patent No. 2537287

However, in the conventional packaging and filling apparatus and method, contamination by bacteria from the seal portion of the obtained packaging container is a small percentage, but it may be discovered. There is a risk that bacteria may invade from the defective seal due to the nonconformity of the sealing conditions when sealing the container.
Also, sterilized web-shaped wrapping paper laminated material is molded into a cylinder and vertically sealed, and the sterilized liquid food is filled into the cylindrical wrapping material and horizontally sealed under the liquid level, and the molded flap is folded into a rectangular shape. There is packaging filling that final molds into containers. In this packing and filling, the flap is folded and molded, so it is considered that elongation / compression stress is generated in the paper laminate material at the folded point, and cracks, minute cracks, and pinholes appear. There is a risk of intrusion.

In the present invention, the above disadvantages are eliminated, and not only the sealed portion of the container and the folded portion of the flap, but also the entire sealed packaging container is sterilized to sterilize an unexpected seal failure, cracking of the packaging material, etc. It is possible to prevent or reduce the invasion of bacteria from the location.
In addition, sterilization (treatment such as heating) of the entire packaging container may cause deterioration of the content product, such as protein denaturation, essential oil, and fragrances. Packaging that can minimize these adverse effects A filling apparatus and method are provided.

The packaging and filling apparatus of the present invention is a packaging and filling apparatus for producing a sealed packaging container that is molded from a laminated material including at least a plastic outer layer, a paper base layer, and a sealant layer, and is filled with a fluid food and sealed.
The sealed packaging container is heated from the outside at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time to have a means for sterilizing the sealed packaging container or the sealed and accumulated packaging container.

In the packaging filling apparatus according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the sterilizing means for immersing the sealed packaging container and heating it in an atmosphere of 88 to 92 ° C. for 30 to 60 minutes is a hot water tank.

In the packaging and filling apparatus according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the sterilizing means heats the sealed packaging container in an atmosphere of 62 to 66 ° C. for 30 to 40 minutes.

In the packaging and filling apparatus according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the sterilizing means heats the sealed packaging container in an atmosphere of 130 to 135 ° C. for 2 to 4 seconds.

In the packaging filling apparatus according to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the sterilizing means heats the sealed packaging container in an atmosphere of 72 to 85 ° C. for 15 seconds to 20 seconds.

In the packaging and filling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heating by the sterilizing means is steam, mist, hot air, or a combination thereof.

The packaging and filling method of the present invention is a packaging and filling method for producing a sealed packaging container that is molded from a laminated material including at least a plastic outermost layer, a paper base layer, and a sealant layer, and is filled with a fluid food and sealed. ,
The sealed packaging container is heated from the outside for a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time to sterilize the sealed packaging container or the sealed and accumulated packaging container.

In the packaging and filling method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sealed packaging container is placed in a hot water bath at 88 to 92 ° C. for 30 to 60 minutes, and at 62 to 66 ° C. for 30 to 40 minutes, 130 Sterilize by heating with steam, mist, hot air, or a combination thereof for 2 seconds to 4 seconds in an atmosphere of ˜135 ° C., or 15 seconds to 20 seconds in an atmosphere of 72 to 85 ° C.

The present invention having the above-described configuration functions and functions as follows.
The packaging and filling apparatus of the present invention manufactures a packaging container that is molded from a laminated material including at least a plastic outermost layer, a paper base material layer, and a sealant innermost layer, and is filled with a fluid food and sealed.
The plastic outermost layer of the laminated material acts as a waterproof, moistureproof, and protective layer, the paper base layer is a support material that gives the container mechanical strength, and the sealant innermost layer is in direct contact with the contents product At the same time, it is a layer that imparts adhesiveness for forming a packaging material into a container.
The packaging container made of the laminated material has a minimum function of filling and packaging a fluid food.

According to a feature of the present invention, there is provided means for sterilizing the sealed packaging container or the sealed and accumulated packaging container by heating the entire sealed packaging container from the outside at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time.
With respect to the predetermined temperature and the predetermined time, the temperature and time for heating the packaging container are temperatures and times at which the packaging container can be sterilized to suit the purpose.
Appropriately depending on the type of product such as non-heated / heated, the type of packaging material such as the presence or absence of aluminum foil, the shape and form of packaging containers such as bricks and roofs, and sterilization / heat sterilization The selection can be changed.

In the case of a high-temperature heated product such as a liquid food such as oral nutrition liquid food, soup, sauce, etc., the sealed packaging container is immersed in a hot water tank in an atmosphere of 88 to 92 ° C. for 30 to 60 minutes. , Heat.
In the packaging and filling of this aspect, not only the sealed portion of the container and the folded portion of the flap, but also the entire sealed packaging container is sterilized.
As a result, it is possible to sterilize unexpected sealing failures, cracks in the packaging material, and prevent or reduce the invasion of bacteria.
In addition, adverse effects such as protein denaturation and taste alteration in fluid food contents such as soups and sauces can be minimized.

In an embodiment in which liquid foods that are easily affected by heat such as soy milk, fruit juice, and milk beverages (including milk) are packaged and filled, the sealed packaging container is heated in an atmosphere of 62 to 66 ° C. for 30 to 40 minutes to sterilize. To do.
Even in the packaging and filling of this aspect, not only the sealed portion of the container and the folded portion of the flap, but also the entire sealed packaging container is sterilized.
As a result, it is possible to sterilize unexpected sealing failures, cracks in the packaging material, and prevent or reduce the invasion of bacteria.
In addition, vitamins in fluid food contents such as soy milk, fruit juice, and milk are reduced, milk whey proteins (including physiologically active substances (including immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, opioid peptides, etc.)), alteration of taste components, etc. The adverse effects of can be minimized.

In an embodiment in which liquid food such as citrus fruit juice that cannot be heated is packaged and filled, heating is performed at a high temperature and in a short time. For example, the sealed packaging container is heated in an atmosphere of 130 to 135 ° C. for 2 to 4 seconds.
Alternatively, the sealed packaging container is heated in an atmosphere at 72 to 85 ° C. for 15 seconds to 20 seconds.
Even in the packaging and filling of these aspects, not only the sealed part of the container and the folded part of the flap, but also the whole sealed packaging container is sterilized, resulting in sterilization of unexpected sealing failure, cracking of the packaging material, etc. Can be prevented or reduced.
Since the laminated material includes at least a plastic outermost layer, a paper base material layer, and a sealant layer, when the entire container including the sealing part of the container and the folded part of the flap is sterilized at a high temperature, heat is transferred to the inside. In particular, the paper base layer exhibits a heat insulating effect and does not adversely affect the contents even at high temperatures.

In the preferred embodiment of packaging filling, it is sterilized by heating with liquid water, steam, mist, hot air, or a combination thereof.
Water, steam, and mist can be heated efficiently because water with high specific heat is used. In addition, hot air can be heated and sterilized in a dry atmosphere.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a packaging and filling apparatus that can be used in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the web-shaped packaging laminate material 1 is accommodated in a packaging and filling device in a reel state. The packaging laminate material 1 is composed of a paper base material and a flexible laminate in which a polyethylene resin outermost layer and a polyethylene sealant innermost layer are laminated on both sides of the paper base material, and between the paper base material and the polyethylene resin. A barrier layer made of aluminum foil is formed, and exterior printing is applied in advance to a portion corresponding to the surface of the packaging container 14.
In addition to the above laminated material, an adhesive resin layer, a metal vapor deposition layer, an inorganic oxide vapor deposition layer, and the like can be laminated.

The fed strip-shaped packaging laminate material 1 is continuously conveyed by a feeding device as a conveying means, is sent to a sealing tape adhering device 3 via a bending roller, a damper roller, etc., and is wrapped by the sealing tape adhering device. The sealing tape 2 is stuck along one edge of 1.
When adhering the sealing tape 2 to the edge of the belt-shaped packaging laminate material 1, the pressure roller is rotatably arranged and pressed on one side with the band-shaped packaging laminate material and the sealing tape 2 sandwiched therebetween, and the pressure is applied on the other side. A counter roller is rotatably disposed so as to receive pressure from the roller, face the pressure roller, and support the pressure roller.

Subsequently, the pulling tab of the packaging laminated material 1 is stuck by a pull tab sticking device as necessary. The packaging laminated material 1 is sent to the sterilization tank 4 and sterilized with a sterilization liquid such as hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization tank 4. The packaging laminate material 1 is sent to the air knife 5, dried by the air knife 5, and then sent to the sterilization chamber 40. The packaging laminate material 1 is gradually deformed by the upper molding ring 6 and other molding rings into a cylindrical shape. The packaging laminate material 1 is sealed in the vertical direction by the vertical sealing device 8.
In the vertical sealing device 8, the vertical sealing portion is preheated by the preheating device, the pressure roller and the counter roller are pressed with the packaging laminated material and the sealing tape interposed therebetween, and the mating surface of the vertical sealing portion is sealed.

The cylindrical packaging laminate material 9 is formed by the vertical seal. At the same time, fluid foods such as oral nutrition liquid food, soup and sauce supplied via the filling pipe 7 are filled into the cylindrical packaging laminated material 9.

The cylindrical packaging laminated material 9 is guided by a roller, sent to a horizontal sealing device 10, sandwiched and sealed in the lateral direction, and the laterally sealed packaging laminated material 12 is cut with a knife or the like to form individual pillows. A prototype container 13 is formed. The original container 13 is conveyed by a final forming and conveying device and formed into a final shape, and a packaging container 14 for containing fluid food is manufactured.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the packaging container 14 containing the fluid food is conveyed by a belt conveyor, and a predetermined number of containers are collected and stored in the sterilizing means 30.

In the sterilizing means 30, the entire sealed packaging container 14 is heated from the outside at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time to sterilize the accumulated packaging container 14.
Depending on the type of contents product, the type of packaging material such as the presence or absence of aluminum foil, the shape and shape of packaging containers such as bricks and roofs, and sterilization / heat sterilization (pascalization) .

In the content product of this embodiment, for example, liquid foods such as oral nutrition liquid foods, soups, sauces, etc., the sealed packaging container is heated in an atmosphere of 88 to 92 ° C. for 30 minutes to 60 minutes, preferably 30 minutes. Immerse in and heat.
In this embodiment, the entire packaging container including the container sealing part and the flap folding part is sterilized.
As a result, it is possible to sterilize sealing defects, cracks in the packaging material, and prevent or reduce the invasion of bacteria.
In addition, adverse effects such as protein denaturation and taste alteration in fluid food contents such as soups and sauces can be minimized.

In addition, this invention is not limited to this embodiment, Based on the meaning of this invention, various deformation | transformation is possible and they are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be applied to the production of liquid packaging containers for packaging and filling oral nutrition liquid foods, soups, sauces, soy milk and the like.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the packaging filling apparatus which can be used for this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Packaging laminated material 4 ... Sterilization tank 6 ... Upper molding ring 8 ... Vertical seal device 9 ... Cylindrical packaging laminated material 14 ... Packaging container 30 ... Sterilization means (heat Aquarium)
40 ... Aseptic room

Claims (8)

A packaging and filling apparatus for producing a packaging container which is molded from a laminated material including at least a plastic outermost layer, a paper base layer and a sealant layer, and is filled with a fluid food and sealed.
A means for sterilizing the sealed packaging container or the sealed and accumulated packaging container by heating the entire sealed packaging container from the outside at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time;
A packaging and filling apparatus. The packaging filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing means for immersing the sealed packaging container and heating it in an atmosphere of 88 to 92 ° C for 30 to 60 minutes is a hot water tank. The packaging filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing means heats the sealed packaging container in an atmosphere of 62 to 66 ° C for 30 minutes to 40 minutes. The packaging filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing means heats the sealed packaging container in an atmosphere of 130 to 135 ° C for 2 to 4 seconds. The package filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing means heats the sealed packaging container in an atmosphere of 72 to 85 ° C for 15 seconds to 20 seconds. The packaging and filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating by the sterilizing means is steam, mist, hot air, or a combination thereof. A packaging and filling method for producing a packaging container which is molded from a laminated material including at least a plastic outer layer, a paper base layer and a sealant layer, and is filled with a fluid food and sealed.
The sealed packaging container is heated from the outside at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time to sterilize the sealed packaging container or the sealed and accumulated packaging container.
A packaging and filling method characterized by the above. The sealed packaging container is placed in a hot water bath at 88 to 92 ° C for 30 to 60 minutes, at 62 to 66 ° C for 30 to 40 minutes, and at 130 to 135 ° C for 2 to 4 seconds. The packaging and filling method according to claim 8, wherein the paste is sterilized by heating with steam, mist, hot air, or a combination thereof in an atmosphere of 72 to 85 ° C for 15 seconds to 20 seconds.