JP2009011196A - Method for eliminating stem end of citrus fruit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for eliminating stem ends of citrus fruit. <P>SOLUTION: The method for eliminating stem ends of citrus fruit comprises treating of citrus fruits which are harvested in unripened conditions, with ethylene gas or ethylene-mixed gas for post-maturation so as to promote increase of sugar, increase/decrease of organic acids, softening of the fruit, generation of fragrant odors and coloration placing the citrus fruit in an ethylene gas- or ethylene-mixed gas environment for 5-6 hours, after post-maturation in succession, or later at another time. According to the method, the stem ends of fruit go into a naturally detachable condition and are separated naturally from the tissue of the citrus fruit, when slight external force is applied thereon. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for removing "suta" from citrus fruits, and more specifically, citrus fruits such as yuzu, sudachi, musk, lime, kabosu, orange, mandarin orange, daidai, eight crops, Iyokan and lemon. The present invention relates to a method for easily removing “suta” from these citrus fruits in a pre-process for producing fruit juice and essential oil by juice.

As is well known, citrus citrus fruits such as citron, sudachi, lime, kabosu, daidai, summer citrus, orange, mandarin orange and lemon have been widely used for eating and drinking, brewing, dried edible fruits and the like. And in the case of the above-mentioned food and drink, in addition to raw juice, other than raw fruit juice or extracted pulp, residual juice that is a squeeze cake or crushed material, i.e., pericarp, ginger, etc. is compressed, Furthermore, it is used as a base for taking out essential oil. Alternatively, it is chopped and used as marmalade raw material or confectionery raw material.
That is, the residue is squeezed, filtered, sieved, centrifuged to obtain essential oil, or shredded with a cutter and then steam distilled to obtain essential oil. Or it is sliced and marmalade or cream-like is used variously.

  By the way, "stain" is also attached to citrus fruits such as citrons, sudachi, lime, kabosu, daidai, summer citrus, orange, mandarin orange and lemon. Therefore, conventionally, when these fruit that has been squeezed are squeezed and the essential oil is obtained from the remaining squeeze cake, impurities in the sachet part will also be mixed into the product. Just removing the spatula. In other words, hesitation is prevented from being mixed.

  For this reason, conventionally, using a cutter such as that disclosed in JP-A-2006-346414, or using a food processing machine such as that disclosed in JP-A-2004-173569, one fruit, one piece It was previously removed by manual or mechanical processing.

JP 2006-346414 A JP-A-2004-173569

According to the spatula removal technique using the above-mentioned cutter, each fruit spatula is manually removed by the cutter, so that the efficiency of the spatula removal operation is extremely low.
Moreover, according to the above food processing machine, the fruit is supported and rotated, and the spatula is removed with a blade-like object, so it is more efficient than manual cutter removal work. There are drawbacks such as an increase in the number of work steps and a work space.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method capable of efficiently removing the citrus fruit. In this way, when obtaining essential oils by squeezing, pressing, etc. after the next step, when obtaining slice peels that are marmalade raw materials, or when obtaining processed confectionery raw materials, the overall work efficiency is eliminated. To improve.

  In particular, when removing the citrus fruits following the process of ripening the citrus fruits collected as unripe fruit shipments before ripeness on the tree by placing them in an ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas environment, we went to the supplementary school. An object of the present invention is to provide means for removing the spatula in a simpler manner so that the removal can be continued.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following technical means.
That is, the invention of claim 1 of the present application is to remove the citrus fruit from the ripening citrus fruit by placing the ripened citrus fruit under ethylene gas or an ethylene mixed gas to promote separation of the citrus fruit. Is the method. In this case, both the case where the spatula removal process is carried out as it is after the supplementary school process and the case of processing with gas for removing spatula once again after the supplementary school has been started are included.

  In addition, the invention of claim 2 of the present application states that when the citrus fruit is washed following the promotion of detachment of the citrus fruit with the ethylene gas or the ethylene mixed gas, the detachment-promoted cocoon naturally leaves the citrus fruit. The method for removing a citrus fruit spatula according to claim 1.

  The invention of claim 3 of the present application states that when the juice is squeezed from citrus fruit following the promotion of detachment from the citrus fruit by the ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas, the detachment-promoted spat naturally leaves the citrus fruit. The method for removing a citrus fruit spatula according to claim 1.

In the above, the ripening of the citrus fruit is carried out by placing a basket containing the citrus fruit on a shelf in the ethylene gas chamber as is well known, and supplying a certain concentration of ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas (from an external ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas supply source ( CO ₂ or N ₂ gas) is supplied indoors, and the citrus fruit is physiologically treated with ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas. The citrus fruit matures by the physiological action of this ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas. That is, increase in sugar, increase / decrease in organic acid, softening of fruit, generation of aroma, progress of coloring, etc. progress. Of course, this maturation proceeds while receiving nutrient supply on the tree, but it is not fully ripe on the tree due to the remoteness of the production area and the fruit market management, etc. In this way, with external ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas Fruit ripening is achieved by ripening.
Conventionally, only the above ripening has been performed. For this reason, the citrus fruits that had been ripened remained as they were. Therefore, when squeezing in the subsequent steps or separating the essential oil from the squeezed lees, work with a cutter or removal of the spatula with a machine is necessary to prevent contamination.
On the other hand, in this case, after completion of ripening of citrus fruits with ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas, it is placed in the environment of ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas after that, or after a while, once again in the environment of ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas. It promotes detachment promotion B due to the physiological action. In this case, it was confirmed that the physiological action of ethylene gas or an ethylene mixed gas for a short time does not allow the pods to be released naturally while being integrated with the citrus fruit.
And although it became detachable for a long time, the ripening of the citrus fruit itself progressed too much, resulting in the collapse of the pulp, and the commercial value of the citrus fruit was inferior. Desirably, when treatment with ethylene gas or an ethylene mixed gas is performed after ripening in the range of 5 to 6 hours, the spatula is allowed to spontaneously leave. The temperature of the room to be treated is 27 to 39 ° C., the humidity is 80 to 93%, and the gas concentration is in the range of 8 to 15 ppm. Desirably, the temperature is 30 ° C. and the humidity is 90%, and the gas concentration is about 10 ppm. The state of natural detachment as used herein means that the spatula is completely separated from the fruit and is not separated, but if a slight external force is applied, the spatula will naturally separate from the citrus fruit tissue. This is a state in which the remains of removal of non-scratched spatula remain on the fruit body side.
This is different from the so-called state in which the scars are peeled off and the fruits are forced to leave a scar. In particular, after completion of ripening, it is desirable to further treat with ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas in the range of 5 to 6 hours. That is, when further treated with ethylene gas or an ethylene mixed gas over 5 to 6 hours, the separability from the main body is good. And when performing after ripening, the total of the ripening time and the removal time is preferably 2 to 3 days.

  As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the citrus fruit can be efficiently removed. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the scraping process in the process of making essential oil by squeezing or the like after the next process or the process of processing the skin, and the efficiency is improved.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, in detail with reference to FIG. 1, the citrus fruit 1 harvested in an immature state is additionally ripened A with an external ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas. As is well known, this ripening A is carried out by placing a basket or the like placed on a pallet or the like in a room that can supply ethylene gas or an ethylene mixed gas, and supplying a constant concentration of gas from an external ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas supply source. Is supplied indoors, and the citrus fruit is physiologically treated with ethylene gas or an ethylene mixed gas. Due to this physiological action, citrus fruits mature. That is, increase in sugar, increase / decrease in organic acid, softening of fruit, generation of aroma, progress of coloring, etc. progress. Of course, this maturation proceeds while receiving nutrient supply on the tree, but it is not fully ripe on the tree due to the remoteness of the production area and the fruit market management, etc. In this way, with external ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas Fruit ripening is achieved by ripening.

  Conventionally, only the above ripening has been performed. For this reason, the citrus fruits that had been ripened remained as they were. Therefore, when squeezing in the subsequent steps or separating the essential oil from the squeezed lees, work with a cutter or removal of the spatula with a machine is necessary to prevent contamination.

On the other hand, in this case, after completion of ripening of citrus fruit with ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas, it was placed in the environment of ethylene gas or ethylene mixed gas after that or after a while, and due to its physiological action. Is intended to promote the withdrawal B. Desirably, when treatment with ethylene gas or an ethylene mixed gas is carried out subsequent to ripening in the range of 5 to 6 hours, the spatula is allowed to spontaneously leave. The state of natural detachment as used herein means that the spatula is completely separated from the fruit and is not separated, but if a slight external force is applied, the spatula will naturally separate from the citrus fruit tissue. This is a state in which the remains of removal of non-scratched spatula remain on the fruit body side.
This is different from the so-called state in which the scars are peeled off and the fruits are forced to leave a scar.

  Accordingly, during the subsequent washing CR, the heel 3 is easily detached and removed by an external force such as water pressure applied to the citrus fruit 1 during washing. FIG. 4 and FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C schematically show this state, and FIG. 4 shows a state immediately after harvesting in which the hair 3 is integrally attached to the fruit 1, FIG. 5A shows the state of the citrus fruit 2 in which the navel 3 is naturally separated and the removal mark 7 of the non-scratched navel is exposed, and FIG. FIG. 5 (C) shows a plan view of the removed head 3, respectively.

  Thereafter, the fruit juice 4 is obtained by drying D and squeezing E, or the essential oil 6 is produced from the squeeze cake 5. In addition, it can be processed at low cost for the processing of peels for marmalade raw materials. In this case, the removal is promoted in the process B following the ripening process A and is naturally removed at the time of washing CR. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the waste from the fruit individually or to remove the waste from the machine. Efficiency is good.

"Example 1-1"
Thirty pieces of yuzu were put in a basket placed on a pallet, placed in an ethylene gas treatment chamber having a temperature of 31 ° C. and a humidity of 90%, and ethylene gas was injected into the gas treatment chamber to a concentration of 10 ppm. Ethylene gas used the carotogen brand name of Iwatania Grigreen Co., Ltd.
Then, ripening was performed for 55 hours.
Thereafter, it was placed under ethylene gas for an additional 5 hours in order to promote the withdrawal of the spatula.
After that, the gas treatment chamber was ventilated and 30 citrons in the basket were taken out, and the state of sticking to the lid was observed.
In all 30 citrons, the spatula was slightly attached to the citron body.
However, when it was put into the water tank and stirred for about 10 minutes, all 30 of the citrons were naturally removed from the main body by washing with water.
When observing the citron from which the spatula had been removed, the trace of removing the spatula from the citron was clean and no scratches were seen. The yuzu body was not too ripe.

"Example 1-2"
After ripening 30 citrons under the same conditions as in Example 1-1, they were placed under ethylene gas for an additional 5.5 hours to promote detachment. Thereafter, 30 citrons in the basket were taken out from the gas processing chamber in the same manner, and the state of adhesion to the spat was observed.
In all 30 citrons, the spatula was just as if it were on the citron body.
Therefore, after putting in the water tank for washing with water and stirring for about 3 minutes, all of the 30 yuzu were removed by washing with water.
The rubbing marks on the Yuzu body were clean and the Yuzu body was not too ripe.

"Example 1-3"
After ripening 30 yuzu under the same conditions as in Example 1-1, the mixture was further placed under ethylene gas for 6 hours in order to promote the separation of the spatula. Thereafter, 30 citrons in the basket were taken out from the gas processing chamber in the same manner, and the state of adhesion to the spat was observed.
In all 30 citrons, heta had a view that was just on the citron body.
Therefore, when throwing it into the water tank for washing with water and stirring it, the spatula was immediately separated from all 30 Yuzu. In the same manner, the trace of removal from the yuzu body was clean and free from scratches, and the pulp of the yuzu body was not broken.

"Comparative Example 1-1"
After ripening 30 citrons under the same conditions as in Example 1-1, they were further placed under ethylene gas for 4 hours. Thereafter, 30 citrons in the basket were taken out and the state of adhesion to the heel was observed.
In all 30 yuzu, the spatula was still integrated into the yuzu body.
Therefore, it was put into a water tank to be washed with water and stirred for about 10 minutes. I tried to remove two of them by removing them, but they were cut off halfway.

"Comparative Example 1-2"
After ripening 30 citrons under the same conditions as in Example 1-1, they were further placed under ethylene gas for 7 hours. Thereafter, 30 citrons in the basket were taken out and the state of adhesion to the spat was observed.
The spatula was removed from the fruit body and was simply on the fruit, but most of the fruit was too ripe and partly discolored or deformed.

Next, description will be made with reference to the attached drawings and FIG.
In the case of this example, after promoting detachment of the citrus fruit body from the citrus fruit body with ethylene gas or an ethylene mixed gas, a slight external force is applied to remove the potato, instead of detaching the jelly naturally upon washing. It is intended to remove the spatula naturally during soup. That is, it is placed under the gas and promotes detachment due to the physiological action of the gas continuously after completion of ripening or once for 5 to 6 hours. After this, it is gently washed C, that is, floated in a water bath, exposed to water, and then dried D. At this point, the spatula has not been removed. After this, juice ER is performed. Squeezing is performed by pressing P as shown in FIG. For example, a citrus fruit is continuously pressed between belts and squeezed. Since an external force is applied to the citrus fruit at this time, the hair 3 is naturally detached from the fruit 2, and the hair removal trace 7 remains clean. And the spatula 3 is removed from the squeezed jar 5 after the fruit juice 4 is obtained.

Twenty cabos were placed in a basket on a pallet, placed in a gas processing chamber maintained at a temperature of 33 ° C. and a humidity range of 92%, and an ethylene mixed gas was injected into the gas processing chamber to a concentration of 12 ppm.
In the case of Kabos, it was carried out for 2 days as ripening.
Then, after a while, “Example 2-1” was 5 hours, “Example 2-2” was 5.5 hours, “Example 2-3” was 6 hours, and “Comparative Example 2-1” was In “Comparative Example 2-2” for 3 hours, each was treated with ethylene gas mixture for 6.5 hours to promote the separation of the heel.

Thereafter, these bosses were pulled out from the gas chamber by pulling out the pallet, floated in a water tank, washed lightly, then dried, and then squeezed with a belt-type juicer. In the observation after squeezing, the kabos had a whip at the time of drying, but in the squeezing with this belt type squeezer, “Example 2-1”, “2-2”, “2-3” In all of the 20 kabos, in addition to fruit juice and squeezed rice cake, it was possible to separate and remove naturally and completely without difficulty by the external force at the time of squeezing.
The portion of the spatula was not mixed in the squeezed bowl.
In “Comparative Example 2-1,” most of the kabos had a scum at the time of squeezing but adhered to the squeeze cake.
In “Comparative Example 2-2”, most of the boss is removed with a spatula at the time of squeezing, but a part of the pulp is attached to the spatula before it is separated and removed to the fruit body. The shape collapsed.

Fifteen Sudachi were placed in a basket on a pallet, placed in a gas treatment chamber maintained at a temperature of 34 ° C. and a humidity range of 93%, and ethylene gas was injected into the gas treatment chamber to a concentration of 9 ppm. The same ethylene gas as in Example 1 was used.
In the case of Sudachi, the ripening was carried out for 2 days.
Subsequently, “Example 3-1” was 5 hours, “Example 3-2” was 5.5 hours, “Example 3-3” was 6 hours, “Comparative Example 3-1” was 4 hours, In “Comparative Example 3-2”, treatment with ethylene gas was performed for 8 hours to promote the separation of the heel.

Thereafter, these Sudachi were taken out from the ethylene gas chamber, floated in a water tank, washed lightly, then dried, and then squeezed with a belt-type squeezer. In the observation after squeezing, the sudachi was attached at the time of drying, but in the squeeze by this belt type squeezer, “Example 3-1”, “3-2”, “3-3” In each case, all 15 sudachi could be separated and removed naturally and naturally by the external force at the time of squeezing, in addition to the fruit juice and squeeze cake.
The portion of the spatula was not mixed in the squeezed bowl.
In “Comparative Example 3-1,” most of the Sudachi had a sticky squeeze at the time of squeezing.
In “Comparative Example 3-2”, for most of the Sudachi, the spatula is removed during squeezing, but part of the flesh will adhere to the spatula, and the fruit body before separation and removal of spatula It was out of shape

Thirty oranges were placed in a basket, placed in a gas treatment chamber maintained at a temperature of 28 ° C. and a humidity range of 85%, and ethylene gas was injected into the gas treatment chamber to a concentration of 11 ppm. The same ethylene gas as in Example 1 was used.
In the case of orange, ripening was performed for 2 days.
Subsequently, “Example 4-1” was 5 hours, “Example 4-2” was 5.5 hours, “Example 4-3” was 6 hours, “Comparative Example 4-1” was 2 hours, In “Comparative Example 4-2”, treatment with ethylene gas was performed for 7 hours to promote the separation of the heel.

Thereafter, these oranges were taken out from the ethylene gas chamber, floated in a water tank, washed lightly, then dried, and then squeezed with a belt-type juicer. In the observation after squeezing, oranges were attached at the time of drying, but in squeezing with this belt type squeezer, “Example 4-1”, “4-2”, “4-3” Both of the 30 oranges were separated from the fruit juice and squeeze cake, but could be completely separated and removed without difficulty by the external force during squeezing.
The portion of the spatula was not mixed in the squeezed bowl.
In “Comparative Example 4-1,” most of the oranges were wet at the time of squeezing but adhered to the squeeze cake.
In “Comparative Example 4-2”, for most oranges, spatula is removed at the time of squeezing, but part of the pulp continues to adhere to the spatula, and the fruit body before separation and removal of spatula The shape collapsed.

Twenty lemons were placed in a basket on a pallet, placed in a gas treatment chamber maintained at a temperature of 30 ° C. and a humidity range of 89%, and ethylene gas was injected into the gas treatment chamber to a concentration of 10 ppm. The same ethylene gas as in Example 1 was used.
In the case of lemon, ripening was performed for 52 hours.
Subsequently, “Example 5-1” was 5 hours, “Example 5-2” was 5.5 hours, “Example 5-3” was 6 hours, “Comparative Example 5-1” was 3 hours, In “Comparative Example 5-2”, each was treated with ethylene gas for 8 hours to promote the separation of the heel.

After that, these lemons were taken out from the ethylene gas chamber, floated in a water tank, washed lightly, then dried, and then squeezed with a belt-type squeezer. In the observation after squeezing, the lemon was wet at the time of drying, but in the squeezing by this belt type squeezer, “Example 5-1”, “5-2”, “5-3” Both of the 20 lemons, apart from the fruit juice and squeezed lees, could be completely separated and removed without difficulty by the external force during squeezing.
The portion of the spatula was not mixed in the squeezed bowl.
In “Comparative Example 5-1,” most of the lemons were wet at the time of squeezing and adhered to the squeeze cake.
In “Comparative Example 5-2”, for most lemons, the spatula is removed during squeezing, but part of the flesh adheres to the spatula, and the fruit body before separation and removal of spatula The shape collapsed.

  Next, description will be made with reference to the attached drawings and FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the present invention enables the natural separation of the spatula by applying a slight external force as a result after promoting the removal of the spatula from the citrus fruit main body by ethylene gas. As a method of applying a slight external force, the water pressure at the time of washing in FIG. 1 and the time of squeezing in FIG. 2 can be considered, but both of them may be used in combination. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, even when there is an external force such as water pressure at the time of cleaning, which is separated from the main body by the physiological action of ethylene gas, and which is not separated from the main body, What has not been removed before the squeezing is also removed.

The process figure which shows the 1st Example of the removal method of the citrus fruit of this invention. The process figure which shows the 2nd Example of the removal method of the citrus fruit of this invention. Process drawing which shows the 3rd Example of the removal method of the citrus fruit spatula of this invention. An example figure of the yuzu before removing a spatula. (A) is an example figure of the yuzu after removing a spatula, (B) is an example figure of the heap which separated from the main body of a citron, (C) is a top view of the spatula of (B). Explanatory drawing which leaves and removes a spatula when squeezing yuzu.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Citrus fruit 2 Citrus fruit 3 Heta 4 Juice 5 Juice squeeze 6 Essential oil 7 Trace of removal to spatula A Additional ripening with ethylene gas B Promoting detachment with ethylene gas C Washing CR Washing and its Natural detachment by washing D Drying E Juice ER Squeeze and natural detachment of spatula at the time of squeezing P Citrus fruit squeezing at the time of squeezing

Claims (3)

  A method for removing citrus fruit from a ripened citrus fruit, wherein the citrus fruit is put under ethylene gas or an ethylene mixed gas to promote separation of the citrus fruit.   The citrus fruit according to claim 1, wherein when the citrus fruit is washed following the promotion of detachment of the citrus fruit with the ethylene gas or the ethylene mixed gas, the accelerating detachment of the citrus fruit naturally leaves the citrus fruit. How to remove spatula.   2. The citrus fruit according to claim 1, wherein when squeezed from the citrus fruit following the promotion of detachment by the ethylene gas or the ethylene mixed gas, the citrus fruit naturally released from the citrus fruit when squeezed from the citrus fruit. How to remove navel.

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