JP2009073546A - Inert gas-jetting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inert gas-jetting device capable of enhancing the efficiency of replacement with nitrogen in a head space of a vessel, decreasing the consumption of an inert gas, and maintaining the efficiency of replacement with no variation among the vessels. <P>SOLUTION: The vessel 33 which fills a liquid food while remaining the head space and is top-sealed by closing an upper opening 33a has a stopper plate inserted in and mated with the opening 33a of the intermittently transported vessel 33 before closure, and a first jetting nozzle penetrating the stopper plate, mated with and inserted in the opening to jet the inert gas to every head space wherein the stopper plate and the first jetting nozzle are taken in and taken out of the opening in conjunction with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an inert gas injection device for a container that is filled with liquid food leaving a head space and whose upper opening is gradually closed and sealed.

There are various types of containers for liquid foods such as milk, fruit juice, and soft drinks. For example, a pouch container and a gave top paper container are containers that are filled with liquid food leaving a head space, and the upper opening is gradually closed and sealed.

The gave top paper container 36 shown in FIG. 3 is composed of a roof-shaped upper part 36a and a rectangular parallelepiped main body 36b, and an opening is formed in the upper part before sealing. Filled to leave.
In this container, the upper opening is fastened in a state where the upper opening is folded inward along the crease line, and the top seal 36c is formed by means of heat sealing or the like on the fastening surface, thereby making the container. .

In the packaging filling machine for the gave top paper container of the aspect shown in FIG. 4, the printed laminated packaging material with a crease line is cut into a predetermined shape to obtain container blanks 31 that are vertically sealed in the container vertical direction. The bottom of the blank is sealed by the bottom sealing means 32, and the liquid food is filled from the opening at the top of the container 33 at the filling station 34a leaving the head space by the filling means 34, and the top opening is folded inward along the crease line. The container 33 is gradually closed and the upper end of the container 33 is heat-sealed by the top sealing means 35 at the preheating station 35a and the top sealing station 35b to obtain a filled container 36 as shown in FIG.

When the upper opening is sealed, a head space (closed space) is created in the upper part of the container. Oxygen gas exists in the closed space, and the liquid food filled in the container comes into contact with oxygen in the closed space, and the product deterioration due to oxidation proceeds.
This deterioration impairs the flavor and seriously affects the shelf life of the product after filling.
An apparatus and a method for replacing the inside of the head space with an inert gas such as nitrogen gas have been proposed. (See Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, and 4)

For example, an opening cover that covers the opening from above before closing the opening, a first injection nozzle that passes through the opening cover and injects an inert gas into the head space in the container, and the upper opening extends along the fold line. The second injection nozzle for injecting an inert gas from above the opening to the head space in the container is also provided in the middle of being closed and gradually closed, and between the first injection nozzle and the second injection nozzle. In addition, an inert gas replacement device provided with a cover and a third injection nozzle has been proposed. (See Patent Document 1)
Before the upper opening is closed, the inert gas is injected from the first injection nozzle. Further, the upper opening is folded inward along the crease line, and the third and second portions are gradually closed. Since the inert gas is ejected by the ejection nozzle, it is expected that the entire atmosphere is covered with the inert gas, and the inert gas replacement ratio to the head space is improved.
However, a large amount of inert gas is injected from the first injection nozzle, the second and third injection nozzles, and the consumption of the inert gas may increase.

In another inert gas replacement device, liquid food is filled from the opening at the top of the container at the filling station leaving a head space with a filling means, preheated for top sealing at the preheating station, and the upper opening is a crease line. Folded inward along and gradually closed. In this apparatus, an opening cover that covers the opening from above before closing the opening of the container that is intermittently conveyed every two pieces, and two that inject inert gas into the head space inside the container through the opening cover A first injection nozzle is provided. Furthermore, two second injection nozzles for injecting an inert gas from above the opening to the head space in the container while the upper opening is folded inward along the crease line and gradually closed are also provided. Next, the upper end 36c of the container is heat-sealed by the top sealing means at the top sealing station. (See Patent Document 2)
The conduit from the inert gas supply to the injection nozzle communicates through the manifold 43 and is expected to inject the inert gas uniformly in substantially the same manner as the other conduits.
However, the degree of freedom in designing pipes and conduits is low, and inconvenience arises in more appropriate arrangement and positioning, and there are cases where the rate of replacement with inert gas is not high.

In still another inert gas replacement device, a hood that covers the upper openings of the plurality of containers and the tip of the injection nozzle is provided above, and the entire inert gas replacement station is made an inert gas atmosphere. (See Patent Documents 3 and 4)
Further, in the fifth inert gas replacement device, a cover that covers the upper opening of the single container and the tip of the injection nozzle is provided above, and the upper part of the opening is made an inert gas atmosphere. (See Patent Document 5)
JP 2002-37215 A JP 2003-165509 A JP 7-187135 A JP 61-047323 A Japanese Patent No. 3113339

In the conventional apparatus and method for replacing with an inert gas, the rate at which the inert gas can be replaced is not high, the consumption of the inert gas is large, and the container is transported intermittently every predetermined number In the aspect, the variation of the substitution rate is generated between a predetermined number of containers.

The present invention eliminates the above inconveniences, increases the inert gas replacement rate in the head space in the container, reduces the consumption of the inert gas, and can maintain the replacement rate between the containers without variation. I will provide a.

The inert gas injection device according to the present invention is a container that is filled with liquid food leaving a head space, the top opening is closed, and is top-sealed before the container that is intermittently conveyed every predetermined number is closed. And a predetermined number of first injection nozzles that pass through the stopper plate and are inserted into the opening to inject the inert gas into each head space in the container. The stopper plate and the first injection The nozzle is moved in and out of the opening in conjunction with the nozzle.

The inert gas injection device according to a preferred aspect of the present invention includes a predetermined number of second injection nozzles for injecting an inert gas from above the opening in the middle of closing to each head space in the container.

The present invention having the above-described configuration functions and functions as follows.
The inert gas injection device according to the present invention is a container that is filled with liquid food leaving a head space, the top opening is closed, and is top-sealed before the container that is intermittently conveyed every predetermined number is closed. And a predetermined number of first injection nozzles that pass through the stopper plate and are inserted into the opening to inject the inert gas into each head space in the container. The stopper plate and the first injection The nozzle is moved in and out in conjunction with the opening.

According to the above feature of the present invention, when the stopper plate and the first injection nozzle are interlocked and inserted downward into the container, the air in the head space in the container is pushed out, and the tip of the first injection nozzle is near the liquid level. When the distance is close, almost no residual air is left in the head space. At the time of the closest approach, the inert gas is ejected from the front end of the first injection nozzle, and at the same time, the stopper plate and the first injection nozzle are moved upward in conjunction with each other. When the amount of inert gas ejected and the amount of increase in volume formed by the stopper plate, the first injection nozzle and the liquid surface are substantially the same or slightly larger, the inert gas is effective without waste. Can be substituted. Note that the inert gas may be ejected while the tip of the first injection nozzle moves to the liquid level.
In this specification, the inert gas refers to a gas that does not adversely affect the liquid food, and specifically includes nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas, rare gas, and mixed gas thereof.

The improvement of the inert gas replacement rate is seen uniformly in all containers, and the oxidation of liquid food is suppressed in all containers. For example, filled containers can be set for a longer shelf life, It will be able to afford to storage and distribution process.

An inert gas injection device according to a preferred aspect of the present invention includes a predetermined number of second injection nozzles for injecting an inert gas from above an opening in the middle of closing to each head space in a container, the first injection nozzle and the second injection An opening cover that covers the opening from above the opening in the middle of closing is not provided between the nozzle and the nozzle.
By replacing the inert gas by the first injection nozzle, a sufficient replacement rate as a product is obtained, and then the container is sealed by gradually closing the upper opening. Furthermore, it is effective to provide the second injection nozzle when it is necessary to increase the replacement rate. Since the degree of freedom inside the apparatus is sacrificed, the necessity of providing an opening cover is low. Therefore, the replacement rate of the inert gas can be further increased, and a more compact device can be obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view of a packaging and filling machine for a gave top paper container equipped with an embodiment of an inert gas injection device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state / action mechanism in which the first injection nozzle shown in FIG. 1 injects an inert gas.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a paper container used in the inert gas injection device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a glove top paper container packaging and filling machine used in the inert gas injection device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the glove top paper container packaging and filling machine used in the inert gas injection device according to the present invention, the packaging material with the crease line is cut into a predetermined shape and vertically sealed in the container vertical direction. A container blank 31 is obtained. The bottom of the blank is sealed by the bottom sealing means 32, and the container is placed on the conveyor with the upper opening 33a facing up.
Next, at the filling station 34a, liquid food such as milk and vegetable juice is filled from the opening at the top of the container 33 with the filling means 34 leaving the head space, the upper fin is heated at the preheating station 35a, and the upper opening becomes a crease line. The upper end of the container 33 is heat-sealed by the top sealing means 35 at the top sealing station 35b to obtain a filled container 36 as shown in FIG.
The first injection nozzle (and the second injection nozzle in that mode) of the inert gas injection device is installed at a position between the preheating station 35a and the top seal station 35b.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the embodiment of the inert gas injection device of the present invention, stopper plates 20 a and 20 b that are inserted into the opening 33 a before closing of the container 33 that is intermittently conveyed every two pieces, and the stopper plate First injection nozzles 21a and 21b that pass through 20 and are inserted into the openings 33a to inject inert gas into each head space in the container.
As shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, the stopper plate 20 and the first injection nozzle 21 are moved in and out of the opening 33 a in conjunction with each other.

Due to this feature, as shown in FIG. 2A, the stopper plate 20 and the first injection nozzle 21 are interlocked and inserted into the container downward. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the air in the head space 33b in the container is pushed out and the tip of the first injection nozzle 21 comes close to the liquid level, the residual air in the head space 33b is almost eliminated. At the time of the closest approach, the inert gas is ejected from the front end of the first injection nozzle 20, and at the same time, the stopper plate 20 and the first injection nozzle 21 are moved upward in conjunction with each other. When the amount of inert gas ejected and the amount of increase in volume formed by the stopper plate, the first injection nozzle and the liquid surface are substantially the same or slightly larger, the inert gas is effective without waste. Can be substituted.
Due to the above effect, the head space 33b is almost replaced with the inert gas 22 as shown in FIG.

In the first injection nozzle 21 and its mode of the inert gas injection device of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the second injection nozzles 23a and 23b are also on the downstream side of the filling station 34a and the preheating station 35a. It is disposed upstream of the sealing station 35b.

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

The present invention can be applied to the manufacture of a packaging container for packaging and filling a fluid food.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] It is a side view of the packaging filling machine for gave top paper containers equipped with one Example of the inert gas injection apparatus by this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a mode and an action mechanism in which the 1st injection nozzle shown in FIG. 1 injects an inert gas. It is a perspective view of the paper container used for the inert gas injection apparatus by this invention. It is a perspective view of the packaging filling machine for gave top paper containers used for the inert gas injection device by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

20 ... Stopper plate 21 ... First injection nozzle 23 ... Second injection nozzle 33 ... Container

Claims (2)

A stopper plate that is filled with liquid food leaving a head space, and the top opening is closed and is top-sealed, and is inserted into the opening before closing the container that is intermittently conveyed every predetermined number And a predetermined number of first injection nozzles that pass through the stopper plate and are inserted into the openings to inject inert gas into the headspace in the container,
An inert gas injection device for a container having a head space, wherein the stopper plate and the first injection nozzle are moved in and out of the opening in conjunction with each other. The inert gas injection device according to claim 1, further comprising a predetermined number of second injection nozzles for injecting an inert gas from above the opening in the middle of closing to each head space in the container.