JP3515178B2 - Aseptic packaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an aseptic packaging device for separately packaging a solid and a liquid of a food product in which a solid and a liquid are mixed and mixing them while maintaining a sterile condition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, there is known a food product in which a plastic or aluminum foil bag is filled with curry, stew and the like. It is sterilized by heating at 30 ° C for 20 to 30 minutes. Further, since the water content in the food boils due to the rise in temperature, pressure is applied from the outside of the bag to suppress the boiling. There is also an apparatus called aseptic packaging, in which a food product in which a solid substance is mixed in a liquid is sterilized at a high temperature for a short time at about 120 ° C. using a heat exchanger or the like, and then packaged under aseptic conditions.

[0003]

By the way, in the case of the above-mentioned food, since the solid matter is heated together with the sauce, the sauce is soaked into the solid matter and the original taste of the solid matter is impaired. there were. In addition to the fact that the solid matter is exposed to high temperature for a long time to collapse, the taste, color, fragrance, etc. are deteriorated, and components having low heat resistance such as vitamins in the liquid are decomposed. On the other hand, in the case of conventional aseptic packaging containing solids, the core of the solids must be heated to a high temperature in a short time for sterilization, and the heat exchanger must be passed through. The limit was about 10 mm square, and the mixing ratio of solids was about 10%. Also,
Since it is sterilized and filled in a mixed state, there is variation and it is unsuitable for expensive solid materials and large solid materials.

As an aseptic packaging device for solving the above problems,
For example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1998-31980, there is an apparatus that separates a solid and a liquid of a food product in which a solid and a liquid are mixed and mixes them while maintaining a sterile condition. However, in the case of this aseptic packaging device, the solid matter is carried into the aseptic chamber in a state of being packed in a bag, taken out of the bag in the aseptic chamber, mixed with a liquid, and then refilled into another bag, There is a problem that the aseptic chamber becomes large in size to accommodate the mechanism for performing this refilling work, and it takes time and effort to maintain the cleanliness, resulting in an increase in cost. Further, there is a problem that a bag for carrying the solid matter into the aseptic chamber is wasted, which causes a cost increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an aseptic packaging apparatus that reduces the cost of aseptic packaging of food.

[0006]

The present invention has the following features to attain the object mentioned above. That is, in the aseptic packaging device according to claim 1, a sterilization mechanism for sterilizing a bag containing a sterilized or solid substance and a liquid less than a predetermined amount into the aseptic chamber and sterilizing the surface of the bag, and the sterilization. An opening mechanism for opening the bag sterilized by the mechanism, a liquid metering injection mechanism for measuring a fixed amount of the sterilized liquid and injecting it into the bag opened by the opening mechanism, and a bag for which injection of the liquid has been completed. A means for solving the above-mentioned problems is provided with a sealing mechanism for sealing.

In the aseptic packaging apparatus according to claim 2, the opening mechanism is configured to cut one side of the bag, and the sealing mechanism has an opening formed by the opening mechanism of the bag along one side cut by the opening mechanism. The means for solving the above-mentioned problems is configured to seal the part.

In the aseptic packaging apparatus according to a third aspect of the invention, the bag is provided with a cutting allowance capable of being cut by the opening mechanism and sealed by the sealing mechanism.

In the aseptic packaging apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the internal pressure of the sterilized area of the bag surface in the aseptic chamber is set lower than that of the area where the bag is opened. The means.

[0010]

According to the aseptic packaging apparatus of the first aspect, the solid material is packed in a bag and carried into the aseptic chamber, and the surface of the bag is sterilized and then opened. Next, while keeping the solid in the bag, the liquid is injected into the bag from the liquid metering and injecting mechanism, and then the bag is closed by the closing mechanism.

According to the aseptic packaging apparatus of the second aspect, the bag is cut by the opening mechanism and the bag is sealed by the sealing mechanism on the same side of the bag.

According to the aseptic packaging apparatus of the third aspect, the bag carried into the aseptic chamber is initially sealed outside the cutting margin. The opening mechanism opens the bag by cutting the inside of the sealed portion of the cutting margin. The sealing mechanism seals the opening by sealing the inside of the portion cut by the opening mechanism in the cutting margin.

According to the aseptic packaging apparatus of the fourth aspect, the atmosphere in the aseptic chamber flows from the region where the bag is opened toward the region where the bag surface is sterilized, and the contaminant does not flow into the aseptic chamber. .

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the aseptic packaging device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. A sterilizing mechanism 4 for carrying a sterilized bag 3 containing solid matter 2 into the aseptic chamber 1 and sterilizing the surface of the bag 3, and an opening mechanism 5 for opening the bag 3 sterilized by the sterilizing mechanism 4. A liquid metering injection mechanism 7 for measuring a fixed amount of the sterilized liquid 6 and injecting it into the bag 3 opened by the opening mechanism 5, and a sealing mechanism 8 for sealing the bag 3 after the injection of the liquid 6 is completed. Be prepared.

Outside the aseptic chamber 1, a solid material 2 is packed in a bag 3
A solid material packaging machine 9 for packaging the solid material 2 and a sterilizing device 10 for sterilizing the solid material 2 packed in the bag 3 are provided. The sterilizer 10 heats the solid 2 together with the bag 3 to sterilize it. The bag 3 has a substantially rectangular shape in a sealed state.
Further, a sufficient cutting margin 3a is provided on one side of the bag 3 where an opening 17 to be described later is provided so that the opening mechanism 5 can be cut and the sealing mechanism 8 can be sealed.

The aseptic chamber 1 has a main aseptic chamber 11 provided with the liquid metering and injecting mechanism 7 and the sealing mechanism 8, one end communicating with the main aseptic chamber 11 and an opening, and the other end being a carrying-in port for the bag 3. It is composed of a cylindrical loading unit 12 which is designated as 12a. In the carry-in section 12, a conveyor 13 for carrying the bag 3 to the main sterile room 11 in a suspended state, and a clamp for locking the bag 3 carried into the carry-in port 12a so that the bag can be carried by the conveyor 13. A mechanism 12b is provided.
The sterilization mechanism 4 and the unsealing mechanism 5 are provided in the carry-in section 12. The sterilization mechanism 4 and the unsealing mechanism 5 are installed on the ceiling of the carry-in section 12. The sterilization mechanism 4 is installed on the carry-in port 12a side of the carry-in section 12, and has a plurality of nozzles 14 for injecting hydrogen peroxide solution toward the bag 3 carried by the carry conveyor 13.
have. The unsealing mechanism 5 is installed in the main aseptic chamber 11 side of the carry-in section 12, and has a cutter for unsealing the bag 3 and a blower for sucking chips generated when the bag 3 is cut. . Between the sterilization mechanism 4 and the unsealing mechanism 5, an air curtain 12c for maintaining the cleanliness of the inner side of the transport unit 12, and hydrogen peroxide water blown by the sterilization mechanism 4 by blowing air. An air blowing mechanism 16 that blows away the air from the bag 3 is provided. The internal pressure of the main aseptic chamber 11 is maintained so as to be equal to or higher than that on the main aseptic chamber 11 side of the transport unit 12. The inside of the carry-in section 12 is set and held with a higher internal pressure on the main sterile room 11 side than on the carry-in entrance 12a side.

The liquid metering and injecting mechanism 7 suctions and widens the vicinity of the opening 17 of the bag 3 opened by the opening mechanism 5 from both sides thereof, and lifts and lowers the opening vacuums 18 and 18. It is composed of an elevating nozzle 19 which is inserted into an opening 17 which is opened widely by 18 to inject the liquid 6 into the bag 3 and is withdrawn from the opening 17 after the injection. Inside the main aseptic chamber 11, the conveyor 13 conveys the bag 3 to the outside of the main aseptic chamber 11 from the end of the main aseptic chamber 11 through the opening vacuum 18, the elevating nozzle 19 and the sealing mechanism 8. It extends to a carry-out position (not shown).

The process of packaging food by the aseptic packaging device will be described below. First, the bag 3 that has been sterilized by the sterilizer 10 is carried into the carry-in port 12a. The transfer conveyor 13 transfers the bag 3 carried into the carry-in port 12a to the main aseptic chamber 11 while being suspended from the vicinity of the ceiling of the carry-in port 12.
At this time, the transport conveyor 13 suspends the bag 3 with the cutting margin 3a on the upper side. In the course of this transportation, when the bag 3 passes under the sterilization mechanism 4, the surface of the bag 3 is sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide solution sprayed by the sterilization mechanism 4. Next, in the air blowing mechanism 16, the hydrogen peroxide solution on the surface of the bag 3 is blown off by the heated air to be dried, and then, in the opening mechanism 5, the upper side of the bag 3 is cut to open the opening 17. In the bag 3, the end of the cutting margin 3a is sealed by the solid material packaging machine 9, and the cutting in the opening mechanism 5 cuts the bag 3 slightly below the sealed portion of the cutting margin 3a.

Next, the conveyor 13 conveys the bag 3 to the liquid metering and injecting mechanism 7. In the liquid metering and pouring mechanism 7, the opening vacuum 18 opens the opening 17, and then the bag 3 is positioned below the lifting range of the lifting nozzle 19 while maintaining the opening state of the opening 17. Here, when the liquid measuring / injecting mechanism 7 detects the bag 3 in the lower part of the elevating / lowering nozzle 19 ascending / descending range, the elevating / lowering nozzle 19 descends to insert the nozzle tip into the opening 17 and inject a certain amount of liquid 6 into the bag 3. . When the injection of the liquid 6 is completed, the elevating nozzle 19 is raised and drawn out of the opening 17. Next, the bag 3 is transferred to the sealing mechanism 8 to seal the opening 17, and then the bag 3 is transferred to the outside of the main sterile room 11.

According to the aseptic packaging apparatus of the present invention, the solid material 2
Since it can be mixed with the liquid 6 and packaged in the bag 3 without refilling the container, it is not necessary to install a refilling structure in the sterile room 1, and the sterile room 1 can be downsized and the inside of the sterile room 1 can be reduced. It is easy to maintain the cleanliness and the cost is reduced. Further, since the solid material 2 and the liquid 6 are initially packed in the bag 3 in which the solid material 2 is packed, the waste of the container (bag) which is conventionally used only for carrying the solid material 2 into the sterile room 1. Is eliminated, and there is no need to perform work such as collection / disposal of this container or to provide a structure therefor in the device, and it is possible to further reduce costs.

Since the side of the bag 3 cut by the opening mechanism 5 and the side of the bag 3 sealed by the sealing mechanism 8 are coincident with each other,
It is not necessary to change the direction of the bag 3 through the opening and sealing steps, and the structure of the device can be simplified.

Since the bag 3 is provided with a sufficient cutting margin 3a that can be cut by the opening mechanism 5 and sealed by the sealing mechanism 8, the opening and sealing steps can be performed by this cutting margin 3a. Etc. can be improved,
The configuration of the device can be further simplified.

Since the carry-in section 12 has a lower internal pressure on the carry-in port 12a side than the main aseptic chamber 11 side, when the hydrogen peroxide solution is jetted in the sterilization mechanism 4 or the hydrogen peroxide solution in the air blowing mechanism 16 is injected. When blown off, the scattered hydrogen peroxide solution is prevented from entering the main aseptic chamber 11 side.

In the aseptic chamber 1, the internal pressure of the main aseptic chamber 11 may be set higher than that of the carry-in section 12. The aseptic chamber 1 may not be divided into the main aseptic chamber 11 and the carry-in section 12, and the main aseptic chamber 11 and the carry-in section 1 may be used.
A plurality of two and two may be connected respectively.

[0025]

As described above, according to the aseptic packaging apparatus of the first aspect, the solid material can be mixed with the liquid and packaged in the bag without refilling the container, so that the structure for refilling is aseptic. It is not necessary to install it inside the room, the size of the sterile room can be reduced, the cleanliness in the sterile room can be easily maintained, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, since the solid and the liquid are packaged in the bag initially packed with the solid, the waste of the bag which has been conventionally used only for carrying the solid into the aseptic chamber is eliminated, and this bag It is not necessary to provide a structure for the work such as collection / disposal or the device, and the cost can be further reduced.

According to the aseptic packaging apparatus of the second aspect, since the side of the bag cut by the opening mechanism and the side of the bag sealed by the sealing mechanism coincide with each other, it is necessary to change the direction of the bag through the opening and sealing steps. Therefore, the device configuration can be simplified.

According to the aseptic packaging apparatus of the third aspect, since the bag is provided with a sufficient cutting allowance for cutting by the opening mechanism and sealing by the sealing mechanism, the opening and sealing steps are performed by this cutting allowance. By doing so, the positioning property and the like can be improved, and the configuration of the device can be further simplified.

According to the aseptic packaging apparatus of the fourth aspect, the internal pressure of the carry-in section at the carry-in side is lower than that at the main sterile room side. When the hydrogen peroxide solution is blown off in the mechanism, the scattered hydrogen peroxide solution is prevented from entering the main sterile room side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing an embodiment of an aseptic packaging device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 aseptic room 2 solid 3 bags 3a Cutting allowance 4 Sterilization mechanism 5 Opening mechanism 6 liquid 7 Liquid metering mechanism 8 Sealing mechanism

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masaya Ichikawa 1-4-16 Nihonbashi-Bakuro-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Fujimori Industry Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-1-199831 (JP, A) JP-A 7-107931 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65B 55/04

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus for separately packaging a solid and a liquid of a food in which a solid and a liquid are mixed, and mixing and packaging the mixture in a sterile room. A bag containing an object and a liquid less than a predetermined amount is carried in, and a sterilization mechanism for sterilizing the surface of the bag, an opening mechanism for opening the bag sterilized by this sterilization mechanism, and a fixed amount of sterilized liquid An aseptic packaging device comprising: a liquid metering and pouring mechanism for measuring and pouring into a bag opened by the opening mechanism; and a sealing mechanism for sealing a bag in which the liquid has been completely injected. 2. The opening mechanism is configured to cut one side of the bag, and the sealing mechanism is configured to seal the opening of the bag formed by the opening mechanism along one side cut by the opening mechanism. The aseptic packaging device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The aseptic packaging device according to claim 1, wherein the bag is provided with a cutting allowance capable of being cut by the opening mechanism and sealed by a sealing mechanism. 4. The inner pressure of the sterilized area of the bag inside the sterile room is set lower than that of the area where the bag is opened. The aseptic packaging device described.