JPH0372860A - Simultaneous treatment of different kinds of contents - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simultaneously treat different kinds of contents while preventing the deformation of the containers, by carrying out the raising and lowering of pressure in specific conditions, respectively, when a plurality of the flexible containers are charged with different kinds of contents together with gas, respectively, tightly sealed and subsequently subjected to a press-heating treatment. CONSTITUTION:A plurality of containers are charged with different kinds of contents together with gas, sealed and subsequently subjected to a press-heating treatment. When all the containers are inner pressure resistance > outer pressure resistance, the containers are heated to raise the pressures thereof at such a pressure increase rate as the container having the content most slowly changed with temperature is not deformed and the containers are also cooled to lower the pressures at such a pressure decrease rate as the container having the content most quickly changed with temperature is not deformed. When all the containers are the inner pressure resistance < the outer pressure resistance, the pressure is raised on the basis of the container having the content most quickly changed with the temperature and also lowered on the basis of the container having the content most slowly changed with the temperature.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention is a method for filling two or more containers made of a flexible material such as a plastic material with different contents, and then sealing the containers. The present invention relates to a method for simultaneously pressurizing and heating a plurality of containers, and more particularly to a method for preventing deformation of all containers during simultaneous pressure and heating treatment.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a method for preventing deformation of a container when the contents are air-filled, sealed, and subjected to pressure and heat treatment is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-1.
No. 8749, JP-A-53-118536, JP-A-59
-66865, JP-A No. 62-224269, etc. However, all of these methods involve filling the same type of container with air, sealing the container, and subjecting the container to pressure and heat treatment.

Therefore, in the conventional method, when two or more containers are each filled with different contents and then sealed, and then the plurality of different containers are subjected to pressure and heat treatment at the same time, it is necessary to set treatment conditions that do not deform all containers. It was impossible to configure.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention provides two or more containers molded from flexible materials such as plastic, paper, and aluminum, which are air-filled with different contents and then sealed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing deformation of all containers when these containers are then subjected to pressure and heat treatment at the same time.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present inventors have discovered that a
When the above containers are air-filled with different contents and then sealed and simultaneously subjected to pressure and heat treatment, the characteristics of the container, such as which one has greater internal pressure resistance or external pressure resistance, and the characteristics of the container when filling the container. Focusing on the change in the internal pressure of the container due to the temperature change accompanying the pressure and heat treatment of the contents, specifically, A) If the characteristics of all containers are internal pressure resistance>external pressure resistance, the contents whose temperature changes are the slowest are The rate of increase in the internal pressure of the processing tank is the rate of increase in internal pressure of the processing tank used when heating the containers in which all containers are subjected to heat treatment, and the rate of decrease in the internal pressure of the processing tank is used when cooling the container containing the contents whose temperature changes the fastest. B) If all containers are resistant to internal pressure and external pressure, the internal pressure of the processing tank is applied when heating the container containing the contents whose temperature changes the fastest. The first issue can be achieved by performing heat treatment at a rising rate and cooling all containers at a decreasing rate of the processing tank internal pressure, which is used when cooling the container containing the contents whose temperature changes are the slowest. We obtained the following knowledge.

Generally, when a container is air-filled with contents and then sealed and subjected to pressure and heat treatment, the temperature of the contents and the internal pressure of the container are in a proportional relationship. Therefore, if the temperature of the contents rises, the internal pressure of the container will rise accordingly, and if the temperature of the contents falls, the internal pressure of the container will fall accordingly. Furthermore, the rate of change in temperature of the contents is greatly influenced by the type and amount of the contents, and as a result, the rate of change in the internal pressure of the container differs depending on the type of contents. In other words, if a container filled with air containing contents whose temperature changes quickly is subjected to pressure heat treatment, the internal pressure of the container will change rapidly, and if a container filled with air containing contents whose temperature changes slowly are subjected to pressure heat treatment, the internal pressure of the container will change rapidly. Change will also be slower.

This will be explained based on the drawings. Figure 2 shows pressure on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal axis, and includes contents whose temperature changes quickly from the start of pressure/heat treatment (during heating) to the end of pressure/heat treatment (during cooling). It shows the change in the internal pressure of a container (a) filled with air, and the change in the internal pressure of a container (b) filled with gold air, which has contents whose temperature changes slowly. According to Figure 2,
When the container is heated in the processing tank, the internal pressure of the container (a) becomes higher than the internal pressure of the container (mouth), and when it is cooled, the internal pressure of the container (a) becomes higher than the internal pressure of the container (mouth).
It can be seen that the internal pressure in (a) decreases before the internal pressure in the container (b).

On the other hand, containers can be broadly classified into those that have the characteristics of internal pressure resistance and external pressure resistance, and those that have the characteristics of internal pressure resistance and external pressure resistance.

When the container has characteristics such that it can withstand internal pressure>external pressure, it means that the container has a characteristic that the strength withstood internal pressure is greater than the strength withstood external pressure. In this case, as the external pressure increases, the container becomes more likely to deform. On the other hand, when a container has the characteristics of being resistant to internal pressure and external pressure, it means that the container has a characteristic that the strength withstanding external pressure is greater than the strength withstanding internal pressure. In this case, as the internal pressure increases, the container becomes more likely to deform.

Therefore, when two or more containers are air-filled with different contents and then sealed and simultaneously subjected to pressure and heat treatment, if the characteristics of all the containers are internal pressure resistance > external pressure resistance, the external pressure will be high as described above. If this happens, the container will be deformed, so by adjusting the internal pressure of the processing tank to a low value so that the internal pressure of the processing tank remains below the external pressure resistance limit of all containers throughout the entire process of pressure heating processing. , all containers can be prevented from deformation. To explain this in detail with reference to Figure 1, when performing pressure heat treatment, the heat treatment is performed at the rate of increase in the internal pressure of the treatment tank when heating the contents whose temperature changes slowly, that is, as shown in Figure 2. By heating so that the rate of increase in the internal pressure of the processing tank matches the rate of increase in the internal pressure of the container (B), deformation of the containers (A) and (B) during heating can be prevented. At this time, the internal pressure of the container (b) is 0 to 0.
．． It is preferable to increase the internal pressure of the processing tank at a pressure that is 6 kg/ctl lower and in accordance with the rate of increase in the internal pressure of the container (b).

Next, during cooling, the cooling process should be carried out at the rate of decrease in the internal pressure of the processing tank when cooling the contents whose temperature changes rapidly, that is, the internal pressure of the processing tank should be By cooling to match the rate of descent of containers (a) and (b), deformation of containers (a) and (b) during cooling can be prevented. At this time, the internal pressure of the container (a) is 0 to 0.4 kg/cm
! It is preferable to lower the internal pressure of the processing tank at a lower pressure and in accordance with the rate of decrease of the internal pressure of the container (a).

On the other hand, when two or more containers are air-filled with different contents and then sealed and simultaneously subjected to pressure and heat treatment, if the characteristics of all the containers are resistant to internal pressure and resistant to external pressure, then as described above, When the internal pressure increases, the container deforms, so by adjusting the internal pressure of the processing tank to a high level and performing pressurized heat treatment, all containers are deformation can be prevented. To explain this more specifically with reference to Fig. 2, when performing pressure heat treatment, the heat treatment is performed at the rate of increase in the internal pressure of the treatment tank when heating the contents whose temperature changes quickly, that is, the temperature of the container (a) is increased. By heating so that the rate of increase in the internal pressure of the processing tank matches the rate of increase in the internal pressure, deformation of the containers (a) and (b) during heating can be prevented. At this time, the container (
It is preferable that the internal pressure of the processing tank is increased by 0 to 0.6 kg/cffl higher than the internal pressure of container (a), and in accordance with the rate of increase in the internal pressure of container (a).

Next, during cooling, the cooling process should be performed at the rate of decrease in the internal pressure of the processing tank when cooling the contents whose temperature changes slowly. By cooling so that they match, it is possible to prevent containers (a) and (b) from deforming during cooling. At this time, it is preferable that the internal pressure of the processing tank is lowered at a pressure higher than the internal pressure of the container (b) by 0 to 0.4 kg/cd, and in accordance with the decreasing rate of the internal pressure of the container (b).

Based on the above method, two or more containers made of flexible materials such as plastic materials, paper materials, aluminum materials, etc.
This makes it possible to prevent all containers from deforming when they are filled with different contents and then sealed and simultaneously subjected to pressure and heat treatment under the same conditions.

In the present invention, the maximum heating temperature is 120 to 14
Although it is preferable to carry out the treatment at a temperature of 0°C and a cooling temperature of 20 to 60°C, the present invention is not limited to these conditions.
For example, it can also be cooled to below 20°C.

In the present invention, the contents may be solids such as foods, medicines, cosmetics, etc., liquids, pastes, or mixtures thereof.

An example of the application of the present invention is prevention of deformation when pressurizing and heating a multi-chamber container in which rice, side dishes, etc. are each sealed, that is, a bento box container. The method of the present invention is particularly applicable to heat sterilization of a container in which a plurality of accommodations B (a plurality of sealable chambers for containing different foods) are filled and sealed with different foods. It can be used very suitably as a method.

Example 1 Internal pressure resistance> A molded container of the same type that is resistant to external pressure (made of polypropylene, container thickness 0.9 mm, container length 15 cm).

Container inner width 12cm, container inner depth 3cm, container capacity 480-
Six oval dish-shaped containers were prepared, three of which were air-filled with consommé soup at 20%, 40%, and 60% of the container capacity, and then sealed. The other three are 20% of the container capacity, 4
The rice was filled with air at 0% and 60% and then sealed.

In addition, an experiment was conducted to examine the speed of temperature change of the above sample. The experimental method was to store the six samples described above in a thermostatic water bath kept at 90°C, and measure the temperature of the contents after 10 minutes.

The results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 From Table 1, in the above samples, the consomme soup was 20%, 40%, and 60% of the container capacity, and the rice was 20%, 40%, and 60% of the container capacity, in order of the fastest temperature change.

The six samples described above were placed in a treatment tank, and the temperature and pressure were adjusted as shown in FIG. 1, and a pressure and heat treatment was performed.

Note that all pressures are expressed in gauge pressure. Initial temperature 25
℃, initial pressure Okg/ctA in the processing tank at 80℃
of warm water, 85℃ for ■ minutes, 0.2 kg/cr
The temperature and pressure were increased to 121 for 23 minutes.
t, the temperature and pressure were increased to 1.3 kg/crl. Subsequently, the pressure was gradually increased to 2.1 kg/ctl while the temperature was maintained at 121° C. for 20 minutes, and the same temperature and pressure were further maintained for 5 minutes. After that, the pressure was maintained at 2-1 kg/cut for 6 seconds after starting to pour cooling water into the treatment tank, and then the pressure was increased to 70 kg/cut for 5 minutes.
°C, 0.1. The temperature and pressure were lowered to kg/cd. After that, 25℃ for 20 minutes, Okg/cut
The temperature and pressure were slowly lowered until the pressure and heat treatment was completed. According to these processing conditions, deformation of all containers could be prevented.

Comparative Example 1 An example is shown below in which processing conditions were adopted in which a container filled with air containing contents whose temperature changes were the slowest during both heating and cooling was not deformed.

Six samples similar to those used in Example 1 were prepared.

The six samples described above were placed in a treatment tank, and the temperature and pressure were adjusted as shown in FIG. 3, and a pressure and heat treatment was performed.

Note that all pressures are expressed in gauge pressure. Initial temperature 25
℃, first E Okg/an! 80 in the treatment tank in the condition of
℃ hot water, 85℃ in 1 minute, 0.2 kg/c
Raise the temperature and pressure to rl and further increase the temperature and pressure to 12
The temperature and pressure were increased to 1 °C, 1.3 kg/cffl. Subsequently, the temperature was maintained at 121° C. for 20 minutes while the pressure was gradually increased to 2.1 kg/c/, and the same temperature and pressure were further maintained for 5 minutes. After that, the pressure is reduced to 2 for 6 seconds after starting to pour cooling water into the treatment tank.
．． Hold at 1 kg/cM, then 50°C for 10 min.
, the temperature and pressure were lowered to 0.1 kg/cut. Thereafter, the temperature and pressure were slowly lowered to 25° C. and 0 kg/cm in 20 minutes to complete the pressure heating treatment. According to these processing conditions, 20% of the container capacity,
Deformation was observed in a total of four containers: containers filled with air at 40% and 60% corn soup, and containers air filled with rice at 20% of the container capacity.

Comparative Example 2 An example is shown below in which processing conditions were adopted in which a container filled with air containing contents whose temperature changes were the fastest during both heating and cooling was not deformed.

Six samples similar to those used in the examples were prepared.

The six samples described above were placed in a treatment tank, and the temperature and pressure were adjusted as shown in FIG. 4, and a pressure and heat treatment was performed.

Note that all pressures are expressed in gauge pressure. Sheath part 25
℃, initial pressure Okg/ctl in the processing tank.
Pour 0°C hot water and heat to 85°C in 1 minute, 0.2 kg/
The temperature and pressure were increased to cffl and further increased to 121 °C and 1.8 kg/caf in 19 minutes. Subsequently, the temperature was maintained at 121° C. for 5 minutes while the pressure was gradually increased to 2.1 kg/ctl, and the same temperature and pressure were further maintained for 20 minutes. Thereafter, the pressure was maintained at 2.1 kg/cI11 for 6 seconds after cooling water was started to be introduced into the processing tank, and then the temperature and pressure were lowered to 70° C. and 0.1 kg/cd in 5 minutes. Then 20 minutes at 25℃, Okg/cal
The temperature and pressure were slowly lowered until the pressure and heat treatment was completed. According to these processing conditions, the container capacity is 40
Deformation was observed in a total of two containers filled with air at 60% and 60% rice.

Comparative Example 3 An example in which processing conditions were adopted in which a container filled with air containing a content with the fastest temperature change did not deform when heated, and a container filled with air with a content whose temperature changed slowest did not deform during cooling. is shown below.

Six samples similar to those used in the examples were prepared.

The six samples described above were placed in a treatment tank, and the temperature and pressure were adjusted as shown in FIG. 5, and a pressure and heat treatment was performed.

Note that all pressures are expressed in gauge pressure. Sheath part 25
℃, initial pressure Okg/cd, put 80℃ hot water into the treatment tank, and in 1 minute it will be heated to 85℃ and 0.2 kg/cIl.
The temperature and pressure were increased to 121 in 19 minutes.
°C, temperature and pressure were increased to 1.8 kg/crl. Subsequently, the temperature was maintained at 121° C. for 5 minutes while the pressure was gradually increased to 2.1 kg/crl, and the same temperature and pressure were further maintained for 20 minutes. after that,
For 6 seconds after starting to pour cooling water into the treatment tank, increase the pressure to 2.
Hold at 1 kg/cat, then heat to 50°C for 10 minutes
, the temperature and pressure were lowered to 0.1 kg/caf. Thereafter, the temperature and pressure were slowly lowered to 25° C. and Okg/CrI in 20 minutes, and the pressure and heat treatment was completed. According to these conditions, deformation of all containers was observed.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, two or more containers molded from flexible materials such as plastic materials, paper materials, aluminum materials, etc.
It is possible to prevent all containers from deforming when they are filled with different contents and then sealed and simultaneously subjected to pressure and heat treatment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 relates to the treatment method of the present invention, and is a graph representing the treatment conditions when pressurizing and heating the object to be treated, with time (minutes) on the horizontal axis and time (minutes) on the left vertical axis. Temperature (℃),
Pressure (kg/cn) is shown on the right vertical axis. Figure 2 shows the change in internal pressure of a container (a) filled with air containing contents whose temperature changes quickly from the start of treatment (heating) to the end of treatment (cooling) and the contents whose temperature changes slowly. This figure shows the change in the internal pressure of a container (b) filled with air. FIGS. 3 to 5 show comparative examples, and FIG. 3 shows processing conditions in which a container filled with air containing contents whose temperature changes are the slowest during both heating and cooling does not deform. FIG. 4 shows processing conditions under which a container filled with air containing contents whose temperature changes the fastest during both heating and cooling does not deform. Figure 5 shows processing conditions in which a container filled with air containing a content whose temperature changes the fastest does not deform during heating, and a processing condition in which a container filled with air containing a content whose temperature changes slowest does not deform during cooling. It is something that

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) When two or more containers made of flexible materials are filled with different contents, sealed, and simultaneously subjected to pressure and heat treatment in a treatment tank under the same conditions, the characteristics of all containers are If internal pressure > external pressure resistance, heat treatment is performed by increasing the internal pressure of the treatment tank at a pressure increase rate that does not deform the container filled with air containing the contents whose temperature changes are the slowest, and then heat-treated the container containing the contents whose temperature changes are the fastest. A method for simultaneously processing different types of contents, characterized by performing a cooling process by lowering the internal pressure of a processing tank at a pressure drop rate that does not deform an air-filled container. (2) When two or more containers made of flexible materials are filled with different contents, sealed, and simultaneously subjected to pressure and heat treatment in a treatment tank under the same conditions, the characteristics of all containers are If internal pressure < external pressure resistance, heat treatment is performed by increasing the internal pressure of the treatment tank at a pressure increase rate that does not deform the container filled with air containing the contents whose temperature changes are the fastest, and then heat-treated the container containing the contents whose temperature changes are the slowest. A method for simultaneously processing different types of contents, characterized by performing a cooling process by lowering the internal pressure of a processing tank at a pressure drop rate that does not deform an air-filled container.