JPH0347646Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a spray retort sterilizer for high-pressure sterilization of aerated foods, pharmaceutical infusion soft packs, and various other products.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, many retort sterilizers have been put into practice that perform pressurized heat sterilization using steam type and hot water type retort pots. These devices are shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-57146 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-57147.

Problems to be solved by the invention In most steam-type retort sterilizers, the steam is ejected upward from the lower part of the retort tank, and the steam is ejected upward from the lower part of the retort tank. Even though the objects to be treated were heated to the optimum temperature, uneven sterilization was observed in the upper layer of the objects due to the temperature drop.

In addition, in the case of hot water type retort equipment, there is a drawback that the processed material stored in the tray becomes unstable due to the influence of the buoyancy of the hot water, and it is complicated to install a holding lid against the tray. A new configuration was required. This effect is particularly severe in the case of air-containing containers, and in the case of pharmaceutical infusion soft packs, etc., there are disadvantages such as the fact that they are not suitable for immersion in hot water.

The purpose of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned difficulties and, although it is a steam type, by arranging the header pipe vertically and moving it up and down so that it is close to each stage of the tray, fine water droplets are sprayed from the spray nozzle. The object of the present invention is to provide a retort sterilizer that can uniformly sterilize objects in a tray using a mist of sterilization.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides trays that are stacked in multiple stages to place objects to be processed in a tank of a retort sterilizer, and hot water or cooling water in the tank. a spray part that sprays water in the form of a mist;
and a circulation path through which water accumulated at the lower end of the tank passes through a pump and a heat exchanger under pressure and is sprayed out again from the spray section, and the spray section is arranged between each stage of the stacked trays. A plurality of header pipes each having a large number of spray nozzles and arranged vertically, a horizontal introduction pipe that integrally connects these header pipes, and a horizontal introduction pipe connected to the center of the horizontal introduction pipe and connected to the outside of the tank. It has a connecting inlet pipe that leads to the tank, and a communicating part that connects the connecting inlet pipe to a drive source provided outside the tank and an inlet of hot water or cooling water, and connects the header pipe through the communicating part. This spray-type retort sterilizer is oscillated in the rotational direction on a vertical plane and sprays from both sides of each stacked tray to cover the entire surface of each tray.

Function: In the present invention, a spray section that sprays hot water or cooling water is provided on each side of each tray stacked in multiple stages, and this spray section swings in the rotational direction on the vertical plane of the header pipe. This ensured that the spray was sprayed uniformly from the spray nozzle at positions close to each stage of the tray. Therefore, the objects to be treated stored in the trays are sprayed with hot water or cooling water in close proximity to each other at each stage, and moreover, as the header pipe swings in the direction of rotation, each stage of the tray is sprayed with spray. It can be sprayed evenly and can be processed quickly at a uniform temperature. No matter how many trays there are, the header pipe extends vertically and the header pipe swings in the direction of rotation, enabling uniform processing without temperature differences, and unlike processing in hot water, there is no floating of the material to be processed. Since the hot water or cooling water is sprayed out in the form of a fine droplet-like mist, the temperature around the area where it is sprayed becomes uniform, allowing for efficient treatment.

Embodiment The drawing shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a tank of a retort sterilizer, and 2 is a tray, which are stacked in multiple stages within the tank 1. 3 is the object to be processed, 4
1 is a spray section which sprays hot water or cooling water into the tank 1 in the form of a spray.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a circulation path through which the water accumulated at the lower end of the tank 1 passes through a pump 6 and a heat exchanger 7 under pressure and is sprayed out from the spray section 4 again in the form of a spray.

The spray parts 4 are arranged vertically on both sides of each stage of the stacked trays 2, and are configured to spray horizontally in a fan shape so as to cover the entire surface of the trays 2 in each stage.

The trays 2 are stacked in a plurality of stages, and a spray section 4 is provided toward the tray surface of each stage, so hot water or cooling water passes through the circulation path 5 and is sprayed from the spray section 4 into fine water droplet-like mist. Scattered horizontally in a fan shape. Moreover, since the header pipes are evenly sprayed by swinging in the rotational direction on the vertical planes of the plurality of header pipes, the objects 3 to be treated can be uniformly treated regardless of how the trays are stacked.

When the heating process is completed, cooling water 9 is supplied in place of the hot water 8 as a heat source for the heat exchanger 7 provided outside the retort, and the hot water inside the retort used for spraying is gradually cooled.

Finally, the circulating hot water is indirectly cooled by a heat exchanger, and water that is about 3 to 5 degrees Celsius higher than the cooling water is sprayed into the retort. In addition, if necessary, the temperature of the circulating water is lowered to a certain extent, and the temperature range where deformation of the air-containing container is no longer necessary (this temperature varies depending on the product being processed, but for example, a temperature difference of around 20°C) is achieved. At that point, supply cooling water directly to the spray section.

When cooling water is directly supplied to the spray section from the circulation path, the water in the retort is discharged from a bypass 10 on the discharge side of the pump 6 to prevent the liquid level in the retort from rising.

In the spray section 4, a large number of spray nozzles 11
A plurality of header pipes 12 having a diameter were provided in the vertical direction, and the spacing between the spray nozzles 11 was set to be the same as the stacking spacing of the trays 2. Among the plurality of header pipes, the header pipes 12 at both ends are formed slightly shorter.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a connecting introduction pipe, which integrally connects the plurality of header pipes 12 horizontally at the center. 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes an introduction pipe, which is connected to the center of the connecting introduction pipe 13 and leads out of the tank. 15 is a drive source provided outside the tank, which uses a torque actuator.
The drive source 15 causes the header pipe 12 to swing around the introduction pipe 14 in the rotational direction. Reference numeral 16 denotes an inlet of hot water or cooling water, which is communicated with the header pipe 12 through a communication portion 17 via the introduction pipe 14 and the connecting introduction pipe 13. Communication part 1
7 uses a rotary joint.

In this embodiment, the communication portion 17 from the drive source 15,
Since the header pipe 12 having a large number of spray nozzles 11 is integrally connected through the introduction pipe 14 and the connecting introduction pipe 13, the header pipe 12 is made to swing in the rotational direction by the driving source 15. . Further, hot water or cooling water is ejected from the spray nozzle 11 of the header pipe 12 from the inlet 16 via the introduction pipe 14 and the connecting introduction pipe 13.

By repeating the rocking in the rotational direction in this manner, hot water or cooling water can be made into a spray and uniformly distributed around the tray.

Effects of the invention In this invention, hot water or cooling water is ejected in the form of a spray from a vertically arranged header pipe, and by swinging in the rotational direction of the header pipe, it is uniformly distributed in a fan-shape to each stage of the tray. Since it is spread horizontally, uniform heating treatment is performed at each stage. Hot water has no latent heat of vaporization compared to steam, and is sprayed in a fan shape as fine droplet-like mist from the spray section, allowing for gentle heat treatment of the object to be treated.

Furthermore, a communication section from the hot water or cooling water circulation path,
The hot water or cooling water introduced into the header pipe through the introduction pipe and the connecting introduction pipe is oscillated in the direction of rotation and is sprayed out from between the trays or from adjacent parts, allowing for uniform spraying. Moreover, there is no problem even if the communication portion is repeatedly oscillated in the rotational direction.

In this invention, even if there are multiple trays as described above, the header pipe swings in the direction of rotation, so that the processing temperature is not uneven on the flat surface of the tray according to each tray, and the efficiency is improved. It is now expensive and requires less water capacity. In addition, since heating is performed using a heat exchanger outside the retort, a hot water tank can be omitted compared to conventional two-tank retort equipment, and furthermore, the retort is not heated in hot water. This has the advantage that the processing can be carried out in a stable state without the objects to be processed floating.

In addition, when cooling water is sprayed out from the spray section, a heat exchanger outside the retort is used to indirectly spray the hot water to avoid rapid cooling and to prevent enveloping of aerated foods. It is also possible to cool down gradually or in stages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the spray-type retort sterilizer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the same tray, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part of the tank with a portion cut away. 1...Tank, 2...Tray, 3...Workpiece, 4...
Spray part, 5... Circulation path, 6... Pump, 7... Heat exchanger, 11... Spray nozzle, 12... Header pipe, 13... Connection introduction pipe, 14... Introduction pipe, 15...
Drive source, 16... Hot water or cooling water inlet, 17... Communication section.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) In a tank of a retort sterilizer, trays are stacked in multiple stages to hold objects to be processed, and hot water or cooling water is sprayed into the tank. a spray section; and a circulation path through which water accumulated at the lower end of the tank passes through a pump and a heat exchanger under pressure and is sprayed out from the spray section again in the form of a spray; A plurality of header pipes each having a large number of spray nozzles arranged vertically between each stage, a horizontal introduction pipe that integrally connects these header pipes, and a pipe located in the center of the horizontal introduction pipe. It has a connecting introduction pipe that is connected and leads to the outside of the tank, and a communication part that connects the connecting introduction pipe to a drive source provided outside the tank and to an inlet of hot water or cooling water, and the communication part A spray type retort sterilizer characterized in that the header pipe is swung in the rotational direction on a vertical plane through the header pipe, and the spray is distributed from both sides of each stacked tray so as to cover the entire surface of each tray. Machine. (2) The spray type retort sterilizer according to claim 1, which is a utility model registration, in which a plurality of header pipes are arranged vertically, and the header pipes at both ends are shortened. (3) The spray-type retort sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the communication part connecting the connecting inlet pipe and the hot water or cooling water inlet is a rotary joint.