JP2011046389A - Control device and method taking account of degree of heat sterilization of product - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device and a control method for a pasteurizer, by which the detailed degree of heat sterilization of a product can be obtained in real time, the degree of heat sterilization can be obtained for each product or a small product group, and only a target product group, not a large lot unit, is easily be distinguished when a product is excessively or inadequately sterilized. <P>SOLUTION: The control device 8 for a pasteurizer includes position information encoding means 3 for subdividing and encoding the position to which a product 1 is conveyed by a product conveyor 2. Further the device is provided with measuring means 16a to 16f for measuring heat sterilization conditions for the product 1. The device captures a signal indicating the conveyance position information on the product 1, detected by the position information encoding means 3, and the signal indicating the heat sterilization conditions for the product 1, measured by the measuring means 16a to 16f. The degree of heat sterilization of the product 1 passed through a sterilization zone can be calculated, for example, by integrating the heat sterilization conditions for the product 1 at each product conveyance position subdivided according to a control program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature processing apparatus that heats or cools a product while transporting a container filled with a beverage or the like (hereinafter referred to as a product). In particular, the product is sequentially heated to a high temperature, and the product temperature is a set temperature. It is related with the control apparatus and method of the pasteurizer (high-temperature sterilization processing apparatus) which is cooled to normal temperature sequentially after being maintained at.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pasterizer has been proposed in which hot water for heating is showered in the front stage, hot water for heat sterilization in the middle stage, and hot water for cooling in the rear stage. (Patent Document 1)
In addition, a traveling thermometer that is transported while receiving a shower of hot water and hot water together with the product in a group of products that are being continuously transported in order to determine whether the product that has been pasteurized by the pasterizer is sufficiently heat-sterilized. A method for analyzing and evaluating data recorded in the traveling thermometer or the like has been proposed. (Patent Document 2)

Japanese Utility Model Publication No.59-33398 (FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-262624 (FIGS. 1 to 3)

According to Patent Document 1, the path riser has a hot water nozzle for heating in the former zone, a hot water nozzle for heat sterilization in the middle zone, and a hot water nozzle for cooling in the latter zone, while continuously conveying the product. Show hot water and hot water on the product, heat the product sequentially in the former zone, raise it to the prescribed high temperature in the hot zone shower area in the middle zone, heat sterilize for a prescribed time, then the latter zone It is said that it will be cooled to room temperature sequentially with a hot water shower for cooling.
However, in the pastorizer of Patent Document 1, reference is made to the heat sterilization of the product, but the technology of the control device or the method of the pastoriser that performs the quality control of the product by calculating the degree of heat sterilization of the product is not disclosed. .

According to Patent Document 2, a temperature storage integrated cassette (corresponding to a traveling thermometer) is transported together with a product in a continuous sterilizer, taken out from the sterilizer after sterilization of the product, and integrated in the temperature storage integrated cassette. The thermal sterilization degree of the product is evaluated from the temperature history of the product based on the temperature measurement value.
However, the temperature storage integrated cassette of Patent Document 2 evaluates the degree of thermal sterilization for each lot of the product, so the degree of thermal sterilization cannot be grasped in real time, and when it becomes over-sterilized or insufficiently sterilized, etc. In this case, all products in the target lot must be eliminated, which may cause great waste and a lot of trouble.

  The present invention relates to a control apparatus and method for a pasteurizer for performing a heat sterilization treatment of a product during continuous conveyance of the product. The degree of heat sterilization of the product to be heat sterilized is heated for each subdivided conveyance position in the sterilization zone. It is possible to measure the heat sterilization time that has been subjected to water showers, and capture data such as the heat sterilization time for each of the subdivided product transport positions and the temperature of the hot water shower into the control device, A control device and method that can calculate the heat sterilization degree of the product in real time by calculating the heat sterilization degree by a control program based on the data, and for each product or small product group instead of every large lot In addition to providing a control device and method that can determine the degree of thermal sterilization, when a product that is over-sterilized or under-sterilized occurs, which product is subject to over-sterilization or under-sterilization And it outputs a certain one of the signals, it is an object to provide a control apparatus and method that can distinguish only a readily products of interest rather than a large batch basis.

The present invention solves the above problems by the following means.
(1) The path tritizer control device of the first means is a position at which the product transport position information by the product transport conveyor is subdivided and encoded in the path trizer control device for thermally sterilizing products in the sterilization zone during continuous transport. An information encoding means and a measuring means for measuring the thermal sterilization conditions of the product are provided, and the product conveyance position information signal detected by the position information encoding means and the product measured by the measuring means The heat sterilization condition of the product passed through the sterilization zone can be calculated by, for example, integrating the heat sterilization condition signal of the product and integrating the heat sterilization conditions of the product for each of the subdivided product transport positions in the control program. It is characterized by that.
(2) The path trizer control device of the second means is characterized in that the position information encoding means is an encoder provided in a drive system of the product conveying conveyor.

(3) A path trizer control method according to a third means is a path trizer control method for thermally sterilizing a product in a sterilization zone during continuous conveyance. The position information encoding means such as the product conveyance position information signal and the product heat sterilization condition signal measured by the measurement means for measuring the product heat sterilization condition signal are captured, and the control program The thermal sterilization degree of the product in the sterilization zone can be calculated by, for example, accumulating the thermal sterilization conditions of the product for each product transport position.
(4) The path trizer control method of the fourth means is the heat sterilization time that the product receives for each of the subdivided product conveyance positions in the path trizer control method of the third means, or The heat sterilization temperature and the heat sterilization time are used.
(5) A path trizer control method according to a fifth means is the same as the path trizer control method according to the fourth means, wherein the thermal sterilization temperature of the thermal sterilization condition is determined by hot water received by the product for thermal sterilization, etc. It is characterized by the temperature of the shower.
(6) A path trizer control method according to a sixth means is the path trizer control method according to the fourth or fifth means, wherein the product is subjected to heat sterilization for each of the subdivided product transport positions in the heat sterilization condition. Therefore, the presence or absence of a shower receiver such as hot water received and the start time of the shower receiver such as hot water are further added.

(7) A path trizer control method of the seventh means is the path trizer control method of any one of the third to sixth means, based on the heat sterilization conditions for each of the subdivided product transport positions, A control program for calculating the degree of thermal sterilization of the product passing through the sterilization zone by adding up each unit corresponding to the subdivided product transfer position sequentially from the front end of the sterilization zone to the rear end. It is characterized by that.
(8) The path trizer control method of the eighth means is the control method of the path trizer of the seventh means, wherein the sterilization zone is divided in the control direction in the product conveyance direction, and the division preceding the divided division The final data of the degree of thermal sterilization obtained by the calculation of the thermal sterilization conditions in the above is used as the first data of the next category, and the degree of thermal sterilization of the product in the next category is calculated as the cumulative value of the thermal sterilization conditions. And a control program that can obtain the degree of thermal sterilization over the entire length in the sterilization zone by calculation.

(9) The ninth means of the path trizer control method is the same as the path trizer control method of any one of the third to eighth means, wherein the thermal sterilization degree of the product obtained by the calculation is set in advance during sterilization. When it is above the reference value or below the reference value, change the temperature of the heat sterilization means such as a shower downstream of the sterilization zone or stop the heat sterilization means such as a shower, Control is performed so as to achieve an appropriate degree of heat sterilization.
(10) The method for controlling the path trizer of the tenth means is the control method for the path trizer according to any one of the third to eighth means, wherein the degree of thermal sterilization of the product obtained by the calculation is set in advance during sterilization. When it is above the reference value or below the reference value, the transfer speed of the product transfer conveyor is appropriately changed to a high speed or a low speed to control the heat sterilization degree appropriately. It is characterized by.
(11) An eleventh means for controlling a path trizer is the path trizer control method according to any one of the third to tenth means, wherein the degree of thermal sterilization of the product obtained by the calculation is over-sterilized or under-sterilized. In this case, control is performed so that a signal indicating which of the target products is over-sterilized or under-sterilized can be output.

According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, in the control apparatus or method for a pasteurizer for thermally sterilizing a product in a sterilization zone during continuous conveyance, position information for subdividing and encoding the conveyance position information of the product by a product conveyance conveyor An encoding means is provided, and a measuring means for measuring the heat sterilization condition of the product is provided, and a signal of the transport position information of the product detected by the position information encoding means and the product measured by the measuring means A control device and method capable of calculating the degree of thermal sterilization of a product in the sterilization zone by taking in a signal of thermal sterilization conditions and integrating the thermal sterilization conditions of products for each of the subdivided product conveyance positions by a control program. As a result, it has the effect that the degree of thermal sterilization of the product can be grasped finely in real time, not for each large lot.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the path trizer control device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the position information encoding means is an encoder provided in the drive system of the product conveying conveyor, so that the encoder is subdivided by the encoder. It has the effect that the product conveyance position information by the product conveyance conveyor can be detected from the detection of the encoded rotation amount information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the method for controlling a pasteurizer according to the third aspect, the thermal sterilization condition is set to a thermal sterilization time, a thermal sterilization temperature, By setting the heat sterilization time, there is an effect that the degree of heat sterilization of the product can be obtained by performing calculations such as integrating the heat sterilization time equal to or higher than the predetermined sterilization temperature.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the method for controlling a pasteuriser according to the fourth aspect, the thermal sterilization temperature of the thermal sterilization condition is a temperature of a shower such as hot water that the product receives for thermal sterilization. Thus, when the degree of thermal sterilization of the product may be over-sterilized or insufficiently sterilized during the sterilization process, it has an effect of being able to cope with an appropriate degree of thermal sterilization by changing the shower temperature or the like.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the method for controlling a pasteurizer according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the hot sterilization condition is such that the product is subjected to thermal sterilization for each of the subdivided product transport positions. By adding the presence / absence of the shower receiver and the start time of the shower receiver such as hot water, the heat sterilization of the product in consideration of the presence / absence of the shower receiver such as hot water and the start time of the shower receiver such as hot water. There is an effect that the degree can be obtained more finely.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the method for controlling a pasteuriser according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, from the front end of the sterilization zone, based on the heat sterilization conditions for each of the subdivided product conveyance positions. This is advantageous in that the heat sterilization degree of the product in the sterilization zone can be obtained by calculation by adding and adding each unit corresponding to the subdivided product transport position toward the rear end.
The present invention according to claim 8 is the control method of the pastoriser according to claim 7, wherein the sterilization zone is divided in the control direction in the product transport direction, and the calculation of the thermal sterilization degree in the divided section is performed in the preceding stage. By repeating this process from the first stage to the last stage in order to obtain a heat sterilization degree over the entire length of the sterilization zone by calculation, it is possible to obtain the degree of heat sterilization of the product by fine calculation. Have

The present invention according to claims 9 and 10 is the method of controlling a path riser according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the thermal sterilization degree of the product obtained by the calculation is set in advance during sterilization. If the temperature exceeds the reference value or falls below the reference value, the temperature of the heat sterilization means such as the shower on the downstream side of the sterilization zone may be changed or the heat sterilization means such as the shower may be stopped. There is an effect that it can be controlled so as to obtain an appropriate degree of thermal sterilization without sterilization or insufficient sterilization.
The present invention according to claim 11 is the method of controlling a path riser according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the thermal sterilization degree of the product obtained by the calculation is over sterilization or sterilization is insufficient. , Outputting a signal indicating which target product is over-sterilized or sterilized insufficiently, and has the effect of being able to control the line-off of the over-sterilized or sterilized insufficient product in the post-processing step .

It is a schematic diagram of the pastoriser incorporating the control device in consideration of the degree of product thermal sterilization according to the present invention. It is a diagram which shows the water temperature of each nozzle group of the path | router of FIG. 1, and the temperature of a product. It is a schematic diagram explaining the thermal sterilization degree calculation program of the control apparatus of FIG. It is a schematic diagram of the path | pass riser incorporating the control apparatus in consideration of the product thermal sterilization degree of 2nd Embodiment, and is a figure equivalent to FIG. It is the schematic diagram which represented the path | route riser incorporating the control apparatus in consideration of the product thermal sterilization degree of 3rd Embodiment, and the upstream and downstream conveyor with the top view.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiments include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a path riser incorporating a control device in consideration of the degree of product thermal sterilization according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the water temperature of each nozzle group and the product temperature of the path riser of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a thermal sterilization degree calculation program of the control device of FIG.

In the figure, an actual container 1 (hereinafter referred to as “product 1”) containing a liquid inside is placed in a direction surrounded by an upper body 11 and a lower body 12 of a path riser 10 in the direction of an arrow 2a by a product transport conveyor 2. The hot water or hot water sprinkling (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a shower) from the nozzle groups 5a to 5f installed in the upper body 11 is continuously sterilized.
The lower body 12 has hot water tanks (hereinafter referred to as tanks) 4a and 4b that collect and collect hot water from the upstream nozzle groups 5a and 5b, and hot water (hereinafter referred to as heat) from the central nozzle groups 5c and 5d. High-temperature water tanks (hereinafter referred to as tanks) 4c and 4d, which collect the water sprayed from the nozzle groups 5e and 5f on the downstream side. 4e and 4f are arranged.

  The treated water in each of the tanks 4a to 4f passes through the pipes 14a to 14f and the pumps 13a to 13f, respectively, and passes through the outlet pipes 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e, and 15f of the pumps 13a to 13f. 5f, 5e, 5c, 5d, 5b, and 5a are supplied. The outlet pipes 15a to 15f are provided with temperature sensors 16a to 16f for measuring the water temperature in the pipes (water temperature from the tank 4a to the tank 4f), and the nozzle groups 5f, 5e, 5c, and 5d. The temperature of the treated water sprayed from 5b and 5a is measured by the temperature sensors 16a to 16f, respectively.

The relationship between the temperature at which the product 1 conveyed on the product conveying conveyor 2 from the inlet side to the outlet side is subjected to the heat treatment by the shower and the temperature of the treated water showered from the nozzle groups 5a to 5f. An example will be described with reference to FIG.
The product 1 having a temperature of about 10 ° C. entering the inlet side of the nozzle group 5a is gradually warmed by receiving a hot water shower at a temperature ta (about 35 ° C.) sprayed from the nozzle group 5a. Showered with hot water at a temperature tb (about 50 ° C.) sprayed from the nozzle group 5b and further heated, and showered at high temperature water at a temperature tc (about 70 ° C.) sprayed from the nozzle group 5c at the nozzle group 5c. The water is heated to a predetermined temperature required for sterilization (minimum temperature 60 ° C. or more necessary for heat sterilization), and then sprayed from the nozzle group 5d at the nozzle group 5d portion at a temperature td (about 65 ° C.). After being held at a predetermined temperature (60 ° C. or higher) after receiving a shower of warm water, the nozzle group 5e receives a shower of hot water at a temperature te (about 50 ° C.) sprayed from the nozzle group 5e to a predetermined temperature (60 ° C.). Gradually cooling from above) Is cooled to about 40 ° C. and subjected to hot water shower temperature tf is sprinkled from the nozzle group 5f in the nozzle group 5f portion (about 35 ° C.). That is, the product 1 is heated, sterilized and cooled according to the temperature diagram of Tb in the drawing. Here, the heat sterilization means of the product 1 is a hot water shower.
The temperature diagram of Tb in the figure is obtained in advance by thermal calculation, testing, etc., and input to the control device 8 according to the type and capacity of the product to be heat sterilized, the size of the container, such as the surface area, and the physical properties such as the material. This is used in the calculation described later.

The product conveying conveyor 2 conveys the product 1 by a drive shaft 21 and a driven shaft 22 driven by a drive system (not shown) by a driving device 7.
The drive shaft 21 is connected to a rotary encoder 3 which is a kind of encoder, and the rotation amount of the drive shaft 21, that is, the information on the transport position of the product 1 on the product transport conveyor 2 is subdivided and encoded. Has been detected.
Here, the position information encoding apparatus that subdivides and encodes the conveyance position information of the product 1 is a rotary encoder that subdivides and encodes the rotation angle information of the drive shaft 21. The linear encoder or linear potentiometer that subdivides and encodes can be used, but detailed description thereof is omitted here.
Further, a product sensor 6 for detecting the presence or absence of the product 1 is provided at the entrance of the path riser 10.

Detection signal of rotation amount subdivided and encoded by the rotary encoder 3, detection signal of presence / absence of product 1 by product sensor 6, presence / absence of operation of pumps 13a to 13f, measurement signal of treated water temperature by temperature sensors 16a to 16f Is sent to the control device 8, and the pumps 13 a to 13 f are driven and controlled by the control device 8.
Further, the control device 8 has a built-in control program that can calculate a clock function and a degree of thermal sterilization of the product 1 to be described later, and can output the degree of thermal sterilization of the product 1.
In addition, when the treated water of each tank 4a-4f is lower than predetermined temperature by the temperature measurement of the said temperature sensors 16a-16f, steam is supplied to the object tank by the steam piping and the steam supply valve which are not shown in figure, and predetermined When the temperature is higher than the temperature, the cooling water is supplied to the target tank by a cooling water pipe and a cooling water supply valve (not shown) so as to be adjusted to a predetermined temperature, and the steam supply valve and the cooling water supply The valve is also opened and closed by a command from the control device 8, but illustration and detailed description are omitted.

Next, the operation of the control apparatus and method considering the degree of thermal sterilization according to this embodiment will be described.
When the product 1 is sent to the path trizer 10 from a preceding process (not shown), the presence or absence of the product is detected by the product sensor 6 at the entrance, and a detection signal is transmitted to the control device 8.
Further, the product 1 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 2a by the product conveying conveyor 2 driven by the driving device 7 in the path trizer 10, and the rotary encoder 3 transmitted to the control device 8 is subdivided and encoded rotation amount detection. On the basis of the signal, the transport amount of the product 1 detected by the product sensor 6 by the control device 8, that is, the transport position of the product 1 on the product transport conveyor 2 is calculated by calculation.

The heat sterilization degree P of the product 1 is expressed as a function of the temperature T at which the product 1 is subjected to the heat sterilization and the time t, that is, P = f (T, t). Assuming that the minimum temperature required for sterilization is 60 ° C., a predetermined thermal sterilization degree can be obtained by elapse of a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature of 60 ° C. or higher (from 60 ° C. to over 60 ° C.). That is, the time from the illustrated Ps to the illustrated Pe in FIG. 2 indicates the degree of thermal sterilization. Accordingly, if the nozzle group 5c to the nozzle group 5d are set as the heat sterilization zone as a general zone section, the nozzle group 5a to the nozzle group 5b are preheated until the temperature reaches the heat sterilization temperature, the nozzle group 5e to The nozzle group 5f is a cooling zone for cooling the product 1 to a predetermined temperature.
The control device 8 determines the positions of Ps and Pe from the temperature diagram Tb inputted in advance and the transport position of the product 1 calculated by the control device 8.
Here, the control device 8 recognizes the illustrated Ps as starting the shower of high-temperature water for heat sterilization.

  Here, the outline | summary of the heat sterilization degree calculation program of the product 1 is demonstrated based on FIG. (1), (2), and (3) of FIG. 3 are diagrams for explaining the outline of the thermal sterilization degree calculation program in the nozzle group 5c, nozzle group 5d, and nozzle group 5e, respectively. Corresponding tank length equivalents (in the figure, 4c tank length equivalent, 4d tank length equivalent, 4e tank length equivalent) are divided into N by subdivision of the rotary encoder 3. As an example, when the tank length is 1.2 m and N = 60 divisions, one division is 20 mm, and when the conveyor speed of the product conveying conveyor 2 is 1 m / min, the one division corresponds to one second.

In (1) of FIG. 3, the data 1A column, the data 1B column, the data 1C column, the data 1D column, and the data 1E column are heat sterilization time integration data, product (container) presence / absence data, shower start data, and heat sterilization unit, respectively. Data (presence / absence of shower reception = presence / absence of pump operation) and heat sterilization addition data are shown. Data 1A, Data 1B and Data 1C are shifted to the right of the horizontal axis in the figure every 1 second as shift data. It is supposed to be.
The data 1B column is 1 when there is a product, 0 when there is no product, the shower start of the data 1C column indicates the position of the Ps, and the data 1D column is 1 when showering and 0 when showering is stopped. Here, the shower 1 in the data 1D row is effective after the start of the shower in the data 1C row.

Based on the above definition, the product of the data 1B column and the data 1D column is put into the data of the data 1E column every second, and the sum of the data 1A column and the data 1E column is calculated every second, followed by the data 1A column. The data after 1 second. In this way, the data 1A column is added every second, and the final data becomes 1AN.
Further, the data 1B row is also shifted every second, and the final data becomes 1BN.

Next, in (2) of FIG. 3, the data 2A column to the data 2E column are the same as described in the case of (1).
Here, in the data 2A column and the data 2B column, the final data 1AN and data 1BN of (1) in FIG. 3 are written as initial data, respectively, and the final data becomes 2AN and 2BN, respectively.

  Next, in (3) of FIG. 3, the data 3A column to the data 3E column are the same as described in the cases (1) and (2), and the data 3A column and the data 3B column are the initial values. The final data 2AN and data 2BN of (2) in FIG. 3 are written as data, respectively, and the final data becomes 3AN and 3BN, respectively.

As described above, the heat sterilization time integrated data is calculated as the degree of thermal sterilization of the product 1, and when the degree of thermal sterilization reaches a preset value on the control, the corresponding product 1 has a predetermined appropriate value. Heat sterilization has been done.
The calculated degree of thermal sterilization of the product 1 can be grasped in real time by outputting from the control device 8.

  Further, the control device 8 calculates the subsequent heat sterilization degree based on the heat sterilization time integration data in the middle of the sterilization zone, and calculates the subsequent shower temperature necessary for obtaining an appropriate heat sterilization degree by the control device 8. Calculate and adjust the water temperature of the corresponding tank by opening a steam or cooling water opening / closing valve (not shown) in the corresponding tank, and perform subsequent showering to make the thermal sterilization degree of the product 1 appropriate. it can. That is, if there is a risk that the product 1 will be over-sterilized, the temperature of the subsequent nozzle group shower will be decreased by a predetermined amount, and if there is a risk that the product 1 will be insufficiently sterilized, the temperature of the subsequent nozzle group shower will be increased by a predetermined amount Thus, the degree of thermal sterilization of the product 1 can be made appropriate.

  In the above description, the data sequence in the nozzle group 5c to the nozzle group 5e has been described, but the heat treatment time integration data and the like are similarly applied to the nozzle group 5a, the nozzle group 5b, and the nozzle group 5f. Thus, the history until the product 1 is heated to a predetermined temperature or the cooling history from the predetermined temperature can be recorded. In this case, depending on how long the shower water is received at each nozzle group, the history until the temperature is raised to the predetermined temperature or the cooling history from the predetermined temperature is grasped based on the preset conditions. However, since this control program is similar to the above description and has overlapping contents, a detailed description is omitted.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a pastoriser incorporating a control device that takes into account the degree of product thermal sterilization according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG.
In FIG. 4, the same structure as that of the first embodiment is denoted by the same symbol, and redundant description is omitted.

  In the figure, the control device 8a of the path trizer 10a is subdivided by the rotary encoder 3 and encoded rotation amount detection signal, the product sensor 6 presence / absence detection signal, the pump 13a-13f drive control input / output signals, In addition to the input signal of the treated water temperature and the output signal of the degree of thermal sterilization by the temperature sensors 16a to 16f, a drive control output signal to the drive device 7a is output. Here, the drive shaft 21 is driven by a drive system (not shown) by the drive device 7a.

Next, the operation of the control device and method considering the degree of thermal sterilization according to the second embodiment will be described.
When the product transport conveyor 2 is stopped for a short time, for example, when the post-process of the path riser 10a is stopped, the product 1 receiving a shower of high temperature water from the nozzle group 5c and the nozzle group 5d on the product transport conveyor 2 is: The temperature will be maintained at 60 ° C. or more (60 ° C. to slightly over 60 ° C.) for the stop time of the product conveyor 2. In this case, the product conveying conveyor 2 is driven at a speed faster than the steady state, and the product 1 receiving the hot water shower from the nozzle group 5c and the nozzle group 5d is removed from the nozzle group 5c and the nozzle group 5d. By quickly moving toward the nozzle group 5e and the nozzle group 5f, it is possible to prevent the product 1 from being over-sterilized and deteriorating in quality.

When the change of the detection signal of the rotation amount subdivided and encoded by the rotary encoder 3 is stopped by the stop of the product transport conveyor 2, the control device 8a determines that the product transport conveyor 2 is stopped, and the control device 8a However, based on the heat sterilization degree integrated data of the product 1 calculated in consideration of the stop time of the product conveyor 2, the change of the conveyance speed of the product conveyor 2 after the operation return so as to obtain an appropriate degree of thermal sterilization. Is output to the driving device 7a.
Immediately after the operation is resumed, the conveyance speed of the product conveyor 2 is set to be higher than the steady state in order to prevent the product 1 from being over-sterilized. On the contrary, since there is a possibility that the heat sterilization is insufficient, the transfer speed of the product transfer conveyor 2 after the product 1 which is likely to be over-sterilized is quickly released is thereafter slightly lowered from the control device 8a to the drive device 7a. A drive control signal is output and the product 1 is operated so that the degree of thermal sterilization of the product 1 is within an appropriate allowable range.
In this case, on the basis of the temperature and time of the hot water received by the nozzle group 5a and the nozzle group 5b, the heating time integrated data and the like are calculated by the control device 8a, and the transport speed of the product transport conveyor 2 is determined in consideration of the data. Although it is automatically determined by the control device 8a, detailed description is omitted.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a plan view of a path riser incorporating a control device that takes into consideration the degree of product thermal sterilization according to the third embodiment, and a conveyor upstream and downstream thereof.
In FIG. 5, the same structures as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same symbols, and redundant description is omitted.

In the figure, the product 1 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 31a from the upstream by the inlet conveyor 31 and supplied to the path trizer 10b. After being sterilized while being conveyed in the direction of the arrow 2a by the path trizer 10b, the product 1 is downstream by the outlet conveyor 32. In the normal state, the sheet is conveyed in the direction of the arrow 32a.
As shown in the figure, a bypass conveyor 33 is disposed adjacent to the outlet conveyor 32, and the tip of the outlet conveyor 32 is pivoted about the fulcrum 35 by the drive of the drive device 34d as required by a command from the control device 8b. The product conveyance direction changing guide 34 that swings from the position 34b to the position 34c in the direction of the arrow 34a allows the product 1 to be discharged to the bypass conveyor 33 as indicated by the arrow 33a.

Further, the control device 8b of the path trizer 10b is subdivided by the rotary encoder 3 and encoded rotation amount detection signal, the product sensor 6 presence / absence detection signal, pump 13a-13f drive control input / output signals, temperature In addition to the treated water temperature input signal and thermal sterilization degree output signal from the sensors 16a to 16f, a drive control output signal to the drive device 34d is output.
The product conveyor 2, the product sensor 6, the rotary encoder 3 and the like of the path riser 10b have the same structure as the path risers 10 and 10a, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

Next, the operation of the control apparatus and method considering the degree of product thermal sterilization according to the third embodiment will be described.
When the product transport conveyor 2 is stopped for a long time, for example, when the post-process of the path riser 10b is stopped, the product 1 receiving a shower of high temperature water from the nozzle group 5c and the nozzle group 5d on the product transport conveyor 2 is: The product may be kept at a temperature of 60 ° C. or higher (60 ° C. to slightly over 60 ° C.) for a long time on the product transport conveyor 2, resulting in over-sterilization.
In this case, the control device 8b determines that the product conveyor 2 has stopped for a long time by the detection signal of the rotary encoder 3 for a long time, and the heat of the product 1 calculated taking into account the stop time of the product conveyor 2 Based on the sterilization degree integrated data, it can be determined that the product 1 is over-sterilized, and a signal indicating which product 1 is over-sterilized can be output.
When the over-sterilized product 1 is transported to the exit conveyor 32 and reaches the product transport direction change guide 34, the drive device 34d is actuated by a command from the control device 8b, and the product transport direction change guide 34 swings the fulcrum 35. As the center of movement, the tip of the product swings from 34b to 34c in the figure, and the product 1 that has been over-sterilized is automatically discharged in the direction of the bypass conveyor 33.

  In the above description, the case where the product 1 is over-sterilized has been described. However, in the case where the product 1 is insufficiently sterilized due to lack of shower temperature, etc. Can be output. As for the product 1 which has been insufficiently sterilized, only the target product can be automatically discharged in the direction of the bypass conveyor 33. It is possible to avoid discharging a large amount of product for each lot including this product.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Product 2 Product conveyance conveyor 3 Rotary encoder 4a-4f Tank 5a-5f Nozzle group 6 Product sensor 7, 7a Drive device 8, 8a, 8b Control device 10, 10a, 10b Pastorizer 13a-13f Pump 16a-16f Temperature sensor 32 Exit Conveyor 33 Bypass conveyor 34 Product conveyance direction change guide 34d Drive device

Claims (11)

  Position information code that subdivides and encodes the transport position information of the product by the product transport conveyor in a control device of a pasteurizer that thermally sterilizes a container (hereinafter referred to as a product) filled with beverages or the like in a sterilization zone during continuous transport And a measuring means for measuring the heat sterilization conditions of the product, and a signal of the transport position information of the product detected by the position information encoding means and the heat of the product measured by the measuring means. It is possible to calculate the degree of thermal sterilization of the product that has passed through the sterilization zone by taking in the signal of the sterilization condition and accumulating the thermal sterilization conditions of the product for each of the subdivided product transport positions in the control program. Characteristic path trizer control device.   2. The path trizer control device according to claim 1, wherein the position information encoding means is an encoder provided in a drive system of the product conveying conveyor.   In a control method of a pasteurizer that thermally sterilizes a container (hereinafter referred to as a product) filled with beverages or the like in a sterilization zone during continuous conveyance, an encoder or the like that subdivides and encodes the conveyance position information of the product by a product conveyance conveyor The signal of the transport position information of the product detected by the position information encoding means and the signal of the heat sterilization condition of the product measured by the measuring means for measuring the heat sterilization condition of the product are taken in and subdivided by the control program A method for controlling a pasteurizer, wherein the degree of thermal sterilization of a product in the sterilization zone can be calculated by, for example, integrating the thermal sterilization conditions of the product for each product conveyance position.   The control method of the pasteurizer according to claim 3, wherein the heat sterilization condition is a heat sterilization time received by the product for each of the subdivided product transport positions, or a heat sterilization temperature and a heat sterilization time. To control the path trizer.   5. The method of controlling a pasteriser according to claim 4, wherein the thermal sterilization temperature of the thermal sterilization condition is a temperature of a shower such as hot water that the product receives for thermal sterilization. .   The control method of the pasteurizer according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the hot sterilization condition includes presence or absence of shower receiving such as hot water received by the product for thermal sterilization at each of the subdivided product transport positions, and the hot water A method for controlling a path trizer, which further includes a start time of shower reception such as.   The control method of the pasteurizer according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the subdivision is sequentially performed from the front end of the sterilization zone toward the rear end based on the heat sterilization conditions for each of the subdivided product conveyance positions. A control method for a path trizer, characterized in that a control program is provided which can add up each unit corresponding to the product transfer position and calculate the degree of thermal sterilization of the product passing through the sterilization zone.   8. The method of controlling a pasteuriser according to claim 7, wherein the sterilization zone is divided in terms of control in the direction of conveyance of the product, and the heat obtained by calculation such as integration of the thermal sterilization conditions in the previous section of the divided section. The final data of the sterilization degree is used as the top data of the next section, and the heat sterilization degree of the product in the next section is obtained by calculation such as the integration of the heat sterilization conditions, and this is repeated sequentially to complete the total length in the sterilization zone. A control method for a path trizer, characterized in that a control program capable of obtaining the degree of thermal sterilization over a range is obtained.   In the control method of the pastoriser according to any one of claims 3 to 8, or when the thermal sterilization degree of the product obtained by the calculation is equal to or higher than a reference value set in advance during sterilization, or a reference value In the case of the following, the temperature of the heat sterilization means such as a shower on the downstream side of the sterilization zone is changed or the heat sterilization means such as a shower is stopped to control the heat sterilization degree appropriately. The path trizer control method.   In the control method of the pastoriser according to any one of claims 3 to 8, or when the thermal sterilization degree of the product obtained by the calculation is equal to or higher than a reference value set in advance during sterilization, or a reference value In the case of the following, a control method for a path trizer, wherein the product conveying conveyor is controlled so that the conveying speed of the product conveying conveyor is appropriately increased or decreased so as to achieve an appropriate degree of thermal sterilization. In the control method of the pastorizer according to any one of claims 3 to 10, when the degree of thermal sterilization of the product obtained by the calculation is over sterilization or under sterilization, the over sterilization or under sterilization is performed. A control method for a path trizer, characterized in that control is performed so as to output a signal indicating which product is the target product.

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