JP2802419B2 - Heat sterilization method and apparatus for canning etc. - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for heat sterilization of processed foodstuffs requiring preservability such as canning and bottling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a heat sterilization method in the manufacturing process of canning or bottling of fruits or vegetables, a container such as a can containing a fruit and a sugar solution is placed in a water bath heated and maintained at about 90 ° C. It was passed through the lid open for a certain period of time until the temperature inside the can reached 80 ° C., and heat sterilization was performed so that heat was transferred from the outside to the inside of the can.

[0003]

However, according to the heat sterilization method described in the above-mentioned prior art, a large number of cans are put in one hot water tank, and a temperature difference in the cans occurs depending on the position of the cans. In order to solve the problem, the temperature was adjusted to a low-temperature can having poor heat conduction, and the heat sterilization time was set to be as long as 40 minutes or more. This prolonged heating causes the fruit to boil, causing it to become fragile and lose its shape, and if the fruit is orange, it increases bitterness, causing a reduction in flavor, which is the life of food. there were.

[0004] In order to eliminate the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a canned product and the like that can raise fruit and sugar solution to a desired temperature in a short time by ejecting steam from the bottom of the can and circulating sugar solution. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat sterilization method and an apparatus therefor.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for heat sterilization in canned foods and the like. By discharging steam, the sugar solution is convectively circulated to heat and sterilize fruits and the like.

As a heat sterilizer for canning or the like, pipes that move up and down depending on the positional relationship of the pipes are provided above the container mounting section, and the pipe mounting sections are paired. The pipe is provided with a lid with an exhaust port for covering an opening of the bottomed container placed on the container placing portion, and the pipe is provided below the lid. The pipe is configured to eject steam from the nozzle according to the positional relationship of the pipe in the vertical direction.

[0007]

When a fruit is put into a sugar solution, the fruit floats due to a difference in specific gravity, and convection circulation of the sugar solution when steam is spouted from a bottom portion is smoothly performed. The contents are uniformly heated in a short time by forced convection.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a ring-shaped turntable 2 is arranged so as to rotate about the steam generator 1 at a predetermined distance from the steam generator 1. On the upper part of the steam generator 1, a mounting body 3 communicating with the steam generator 1 is rotatably mounted. The motor 4 is provided above the mounting body 3.
Is driven so that the mounting body 3 and the turntable 2 rotate synchronously.

A mounting rod 5 is radially mounted on the outer surface of the mounting body 3 at a predetermined interval. The mounting rod 5 extends horizontally outward from the base portion, and is formed to be vertically suspended at a predetermined position outside the steam generator 1. A vertical rail 6 is fixedly attached to a hanging portion of the mounting rod 5. The vertical rail 6 is provided with locking pieces 7, 8 projecting horizontally outward at both upper and lower ends, and is formed in a U-shape when viewed from the side. The engaging pieces 7 and 8 are provided with insertion holes.

On the upper surface of the turntable 2, there are provided container mounting portions 9 at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction. The container mounting portion 9 is composed of a roll 10 arranged side by side so as to be rotatable inward and outward and a fixed frame 11 erected on the side of the roll 10. Reference numeral 12 denotes a conveyor.

A pipe 13 is radially connected to a side surface of the mounting body 3 at a predetermined interval. Pipe 1
3 is connected to a spillable pipe 14, and a pipe 16 having a nozzle 15 connected to the lower end thereof is connected to the outer end of the spillable pipe 14. Is formed. The valve with sensor 17 is attached to the outer end of the pipe 13 so as to open and close according to the positional relationship of the pipe 16. The pipe 16 is bent downward at the upper portion, and is inserted into the insertion holes of the locking pieces 7 and 8 so as to be vertically movable.

A mounting plate 18 is mounted on a portion of the pipe 16 located between the locking pieces 7 and 8, and a roller 19 is rotatably mounted on an outer surface of the mounting plate 18. A body 20 is provided. A frame 21 is provided above and outside the vertical rail 6. An attachment body 23 having a support rod 22 protruding inward is suspended from the frame body 21. The endless guide rail 24 is supported by the support rod 22, and the endless guide rail 24 is formed with a ridge and a horizontal valley corresponding to the length of the mounting body 23 as shown in FIG. The endless guide rail 24 includes the roller 19 and the support 2
0, the roller 19 rotates on the endless guide rail 24 supported by the support body 20 while the pipe 1
6 is configured to rotate around the steam generator 1. A lid 25 formed in a funnel shape is attached to a lower portion of the pipe 16. An exhaust pipe 26 is vertically provided through the lid 25, and a fruit intrusion prevention plate 28 provided with a small hole 27 at the lower end edge is continuously provided. A clogging prevention piece 29 is attached to the opening of the nozzle 15.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described together with a preferred embodiment of the heat sterilization method of the present invention.

A bottomed container 31 having a circular opening 30 on its upper surface, for example, an 18-liter can, is placed on the container placing portion 9.
About 18 to 20 kg of fruit 32 such as bunch of oranges, for example, from which cuticles are removed, is placed in the bottomed container 31, and about 80 to 9 kg.
A 5 ° C. heated sugar solution 33 is added. It is preferable that the amount of the sugar liquid 33 to be charged is an amount obtained by subtracting the increase in the deposition volume due to the steam ejection described later from the volume of the bottomed container 31. The fruit 32 floats in the sugar solution 33 due to a specific gravity difference from the sugar solution 33, and a layer of the fruit 32 is formed on the upper portion. By driving the motor 4, the pipe 13, the mounting rod 5 and the turntable 2 are rotated synchronously, and the roller 19 is moved from the peak of the endless guide rail 24 to a horizontal valley.
Is rotated, the mounting plate 18 is lowered corresponding to the position of the guide rail 24, and the pipe 16 is also lowered. Nozzle 1
5 enters the bottomed container 31 through the circular opening 30 and is disposed on the bottom in the bottomed container 31. Valve 17 opens,
The steam of 0.5 kg / cm ² sent from the steam generator 1 is ejected from the nozzle 15, and the sugar liquid 33 in the bottomed container 31.
Circulate. While the turntable 2 rotates synchronously with the mounting body 3 and the roller 19 is rotating and moving in the horizontal valley of the guide rail 24, the nozzle 15 maintains the steam ejection state at a fixed position. The vapor ejected in the bottomed container 31 is exhausted from the exhaust pipe 26 after circulating the sugar liquid 33. The fruit intrusion prevention plate 28 functions to prevent the fruit 32 from being clogged in the opening on the lower surface of the exhaust pipe 26. After the steam has been jetted from the nozzle 15 for about 12 minutes during the valley passage time, when the roller 19 moves to the peak of the guide rail 24, the mounting plate 18 rises, and the nozzle 15 also rises and comes out of the bottomed container 31. To move upward. The valve 17 closes immediately after the roller 19 passes through the valley of the guide rail 24, and stops the ejection of steam. After covering the opening 30 of the bottomed container 31, the container 31 is sent out to the conveyor 12 to be commercialized.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of the lid according to the present invention. In this figure, a flange 34 is
Is provided. The flange 34 is provided with a plurality of exhaust holes 35. Other configurations are exactly the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

[0017]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the sugar solution in which the raw fruit is immersed is convected by steam and sterilized by heating, the inside of the container is heated from the central portion to achieve a uniform temperature in a short time. Since heating can be performed, the taste and appearance of the fruit are extremely good, and there is an effect that a processed fruit product having a texture almost similar to a raw fruit can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the valve is opened and closed according to the positional relationship of the pipe, and the pipe and the turntable are rotated synchronously, heat sterilization by steam can be automatically performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an operation state of a main part in one embodiment of a heat sterilization apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the heat sterilization apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a guide rail and a pipe.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which steam is jetted from a nozzle in a container.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a lid according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Container mounting part 15 Nozzle 16 Pipe 25 Lid 30 Opening 31 Container with bottom

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] Claims 1. After putting fruits and a heated or non-warmed sugar solution into a container, steam is blown out from the lower portion of the container to convectively circulate the sugar solution to heat sterilize the fruits and the like. Characteristic heat sterilization method for canned foods. 2. A pipe 16 that moves up and down according to the positional relationship of the pipe 16 is provided above the container mounting section 9, and the pipe 16 and the container mounting section 9 move as a pair. So that the pipe 16 has the container mounting portion 9
A lid 25 with an exhaust port for covering the opening 30 of the bottomed container 31 placed on the pipe 16; and the pipe 16 is provided with a nozzle 15 projecting below the lid 25 in a row. A heat sterilizer for cans or the like, characterized in that steam is ejected from the nozzle 15 according to the positional relationship of the pipe 16 in the vertical direction.