JPH0678691A - High pressure treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the structure of the high pressure treating device for foods and automatize the charging or discharging of a pressure medium. CONSTITUTION:A lid 3 and a main cylinder 4 are disposed in a support frame 1, and a pressure container 6 having a pressure chamber 7 permitting to insert a food thereinto is slidably disposed in a main cylinder chamber 5 formed in the main cylinder 4. The pressure container 6 is equipped with an auxiliary cylinder 21 for automatically charging or discharging water as the pressure medium into the pressure chamber 7 in response to the vertical movement of the pressure container 6. Since a food is pressed with a piston slidably disposed in the pressure chamber and having a rod, the food can extremely readily be inserted into and withdrawn from the pressure chamber, and since the water is charged into or discharged from the pressure chamber in interlock with the movement of the pressure container, the water for the pressure can automatically be charged or discharged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high pressure processing apparatus for applying a high pressure to an object to be processed such as food.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, by applying a high pressure of several thousand atmospheric pressure to foods, the bactericidal action of foods, the inactivation of enzymes, the control action of enzyme reactions, the transforming action of proteins and starches have been applied, and microorganisms in foods Techniques have been proposed for promoting pollution prevention, inactivation of harmful proteins, extension of shelf life, production of semi-cooked products, and the like.

By the way, conventionally, as a high-pressure processing apparatus for applying a high pressure to an object to be processed, after inserting the object to be processed into a pressure vessel, water is injected as a pressure medium and a piston or the like is moved by hydraulic pressure. A high pressure is applied to an object to be processed through water, and in this case, the pressure vessel is arranged and supported in a rectangular frame.

In the structure of the high-pressure processing apparatus described above, when the object to be processed is inserted into the pressure vessel, the frame portion of the frame is allowed to swing, and the frame is moved every time the object is inserted or removed. The object to be processed is inserted and removed by rocking or moving the pressure vessel itself from the frame to the outside.

Further, every time the size of the object to be treated changes, water as a pressure medium is poured and discharged by manual operation.

[0006]

However, according to the structure of the high-pressure processing apparatus as described above, the frame portion of the frame is swung or the pressure vessel itself is moved every time the object to be processed is inserted and taken out. There is a problem that it is necessary to move it to the outside, and thus it is necessary to widen the working space and the structure of the device becomes complicated.

Further, the work of pouring and discharging water, which is a pressure medium, every time the object to be processed is exchanged is performed while the worker is watching the working state, which is very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a high pressure processing apparatus which can solve the above problems.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first means of the present invention is to provide a support frame in which a working space portion is formed and an upper frame portion in the working space portion of the supporting frame. A lid body to be attached, a main cylinder body supported by a lower frame portion in the working space portion of the support frame and having a main cylinder chamber formed therein, and a pressure chamber into which an object to be processed is inserted in a central portion A cylindrical body formed and slidably arranged in the main cylinder chamber in the vertical direction; and a pressure chamber arranged on the upper surface of the piston portion while being arranged in the main cylinder chamber and below the cylindrical body. A main piston body having a rod portion projecting from the main piston body, a first space chamber formed between a lower surface of the main piston body and an inner bottom surface of the main cylinder body, an upper surface of the piston portion and a tubular body. Between the underside of A pressurizing unit for supplying / discharging a pressurizing working fluid to / from a second space chamber formed and a third space chamber formed between the tubular body and the inner upper surface of the main cylinder chamber, and the main cylinder body side. And a sub-cylinder body having a sub-cylinder chamber and a sub-piston body in which a lower piston portion is slidably arranged in the sub-cylinder chamber and an upper rod portion is connected to the tubular body side. A high-pressure processing device configured to form a through hole for communicating the sub-cylinder chamber and the pressure chamber inside the sub-piston body and the tubular body, and to fill the sub-cylinder chamber with a pressure medium. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a second means of the present invention is to provide a support frame having a working space formed therein, and a lid attached to the upper frame part in the working space of the supporting frame. A cylinder body that is supported by the lower frame portion in the working space portion of the support frame and has a cylinder chamber formed therein, and a pressure chamber into which the object to be processed is inserted is formed in the center portion of the cylinder. A tubular body slidably arranged in the chamber in the vertical direction, a moving device for moving the tubular body in the vertical direction, and a piston portion arranged in the cylinder chamber and below the tubular body. A piston body having a rod portion projecting from the upper surface of the piston body, and a first space chamber formed between the lower surface of the piston body and the inner bottom surface of the cylinder body. Discharge A pressurizing unit, a first communication passage that communicates the second space chamber formed between the lower flange portion of the cylindrical body and the inner upper surface of the cylinder chamber with the pressure chamber, and the upper surface of the piston portion. And a lower surface of the tubular body, a second communication passage that communicates the third space chamber and the pressure chamber, and a third communication passage that communicates the third space chamber and the second space chamber. And a high-pressure processing apparatus having the second space chamber and the third space chamber filled with a pressure medium.

[0011]

In the above first structure, when a high pressure is applied to the object to be processed, the main piston body and the tubular body are first moved to a position below the main cylinder chamber, and then the object to be processed is placed in the pressure chamber. Place on the tip of the rod.

Next, a pressurized working fluid is supplied into the second main space chamber to raise only the cylindrical body. Then, since the sub piston body also rises as the tubular body rises, the pressure medium in the second sub space chamber is automatically supplied into the pressure chamber via the through hole.

Next, a pressurized working fluid is supplied into the first space chamber to raise the main piston body so that the pressure medium in the pressure chamber is set to a predetermined high pressure, and for example, several thousand pieces are applied to an object to be processed in the pressure chamber. Apply atmospheric pressure.

Then, this state is maintained for a predetermined time, and when the high pressure processing is completed, the main piston body and the tubular body are lowered. Then, the high-pressure processed object automatically appears on the upper surface of the cylindrical body, so that the object can be easily taken out from the device and the pressure medium in the pressure chamber is automatically moved to the sub cylinder side. Return to.

Also in the second structure, when the tubular body is moved up and down while the object to be processed is inserted into the pressure chamber, the pressure medium filled in the second space chamber becomes the first medium. It is also automatically supplied to the pressure chamber via the communication passage,
The object to be processed is subjected to high pressure processing. At this time, the excess pressure medium flows into the third space chamber through the second communication passage.

When the high-pressure treatment is completed, the pressure medium flowing into the third space chamber is returned to the second space chamber again by lowering the cylindrical body through the third communication passage. Also in this case, the work to be inserted into and taken out from the pressure chamber can be easily performed as in the first configuration.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A high pressure processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The high-pressure processing apparatus in this embodiment is
It will be described as an apparatus for applying a high pressure of several thousand atmospheric pressure to food. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the food high-pressure processing apparatus includes a support frame 1 having a rectangular shape in a front view in which a work space 2 is formed, and a space above the work space 2 of the support frame 1. A lid 3 attached to the upper frame portion 1a,
The lower frame portion 1b below the working space portion 2 of the support frame 1
The main cylinder body 4 placed on top and having a main cylinder chamber 5 formed therein, and a food product (actually a flexible sealed bag, specifically, a vinyl bag or the like) that is a processed product in the central portion. A cylindrical pressure vessel (cylindrical body) 6 which is formed in the main cylinder chamber 5 and is slidable in the vertical direction, and the main cylinder. The pressure chamber 7 is arranged in the chamber 5 and below the main cylinder body 4, and is formed on the upper surface of the piston portion 8a.
Main piston body 8 having a rod portion 8b fitted therein
And the lower surface of the main piston body 8 and the main cylinder body 4
A first main space chamber 11 formed between the inner bottom surface of the pressure vessel 6, a second main space chamber 12 formed between the upper surface of the piston portion 8a and the lower surface of the pressure vessel 6, and the pressure vessel 6 and the main A hydraulic unit (pressurizing unit) 14 that supplies and discharges hydraulic pressure (an example of a pressurizing working fluid) to and from a third main space chamber 13 that is formed between the inner surface of the cylinder chamber 5 and the main cylinder body 4. Side, that is, the sub-cylinder body 21 provided on the lower frame portion 1b side and having a sub-cylinder chamber 22
And the lower piston part 23a is
The upper rod portion 23 is slidably disposed inside
b is composed of an auxiliary piston body 23 connected to the upper flange portion 6a of the pressure vessel 6.

Further, in the rod portion 23b of the sub-piston body 23 and the upper portion of the pressure vessel 6, through holes 24,
25 is formed, and the first sub space chamber 26 on the upper side of the sub cylinder chamber 22 and the inside of the pressure chamber 7 are communicated with each other through these through holes 24, 25. , Water (an example of a pressure medium) is filled.

The inside of the first sub space chamber 26 below the sub cylinder chamber 22 and the hole 28 formed in the upper portion of the pressure vessel 6 are connected via a pipe 30 having a check valve 29 in the middle. The sub piston body 23 is also communicated with the first sub space chamber 26 and the second sub space chamber 27, and a communication hole 32 in which a check valve 31 is interposed is formed in the middle. . The check valve 31 is provided in the first sub space chamber 26.
This is for allowing air and water to move from the side to the second sub space chamber 27 side. Also, the sub cylinder body 2
1, an air reservoir 33 and a stop valve 34
Is provided.

Further, on the lower surface of the lid body 3, a protrusion 3a which can be fitted into the pressure chamber 7 formed on the pressure vessel 6 side.
Are formed. The pressure container 6 is composed of a container main body 41 having a pressure chamber 7 formed in the center thereof, and a protective cylinder 42 fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the container main body 41, and the main cylinder chamber of the protective cylinder 42. A flange portion 43 is provided at a lower end portion located inside the protrusion 5.
The third space chamber 13 is defined between the upper surface of the main cylinder chamber 5 and the inner upper surface of the main cylinder chamber 5. In addition, the pressure container 6 is replaced by the container body 4
Although it is configured by 1 and the protection cylinder 42, it may be configured as an integral body as a matter of course.

A through hole 44 for supplying / discharging hydraulic pressure is formed at a predetermined position of the protective cylinder 42 of the pressure vessel 6 so as to vertically penetrate therethrough. Furthermore, the hydraulic unit 14
Is formed in the first hydraulic pressure supply pipe 53 for supplying hydraulic pressure into the first space chamber 11 through the hydraulic pressure supply hole 51 formed in the main cylinder body 4, and the protective cylinder body 42 of the main cylinder body 4. Through the through hole 44, the second hydraulic pressure supply pipe 54 for supplying hydraulic pressure into the second space chamber 12, and the hydraulic pressure supply hole 52 formed in the upper part of the main cylinder body 4 through the third space chamber 13 And a third hydraulic pressure supply pipe 55 for supplying hydraulic pressure therein, and these hydraulic pressure supply pipes 53, 54, 5
5 Plural electromagnetic switching valves (not shown) interposed in the middle
And a hydraulic pump (not shown) for supplying hydraulic pressure, an oil tank, and the like.

Next, the operation of applying a high pressure to food in the above structure will be described. First, the hydraulic unit 14 is actuated to bring the main piston body 8 and the pressure vessel 6 below the main cylinder chamber 5 as shown by the solid line in FIG. At this time, the rod portion 8 of the main piston body 8
The upper end surface of b is located near the upper surface of the pressure vessel 6. At this time, the inside of the second sub space chamber 27 is filled with water.

In this state, the food A placed in the sealed container is placed on the tip surface of the rod portion 8b in the pressure chamber 7. Next, the electromagnetic switching valve is operated to supply the hydraulic pressure into the second space chamber 12, and as shown by the phantom line in FIG. It is completely inserted, and the pressure chamber 7 is closed by the lid 3.

As the pressure vessel 6 rises, the sub piston body 23 also rises, so that the water in the second sub space chamber 27 automatically enters the pressure chamber 7 through the through holes 24 and 25. Will be supplied.

Next, similarly, the electromagnetic switching valve is actuated,
The hydraulic pressure is supplied into the first space chamber 11 to raise the main piston body 8 so that the water in the pressure chamber 7 has a predetermined high pressure, and the food A in the pressure chamber 7 is pressurized to, for example, several thousand atmospheric pressure. Let it work.

Then, this state is maintained for a predetermined time, and when the high pressure processing is completed, the electromagnetic switching valve is operated to
The hydraulic pressure in the first space chamber 11 and the second space chamber 12 is discharged, and the hydraulic pressure is supplied into the third space chamber 13 to lower the main piston body 8 and the pressure vessel 6.

Then, the food A that has been subjected to the high-pressure treatment automatically appears on the upper surface of the pressure container 6, so that the food A can be easily taken out from the apparatus. At this time, the pressure chamber 7
The water in the second sub space chamber 2 passes through the through holes 24 and 25.
Inflow into 7.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to easily perform the high-pressure processing operation of foods and automatically supply and discharge water as a pressure medium.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the first embodiment, the water as the pressure medium is supplied to and discharged from the pressure chamber by the sub cylinder body provided separately from the main cylinder body. In the second embodiment, water, which is a pressure medium, is automatically supplied and discharged on the main cylinder body side.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the food high pressure processing apparatus according to the second embodiment has a lid 1 attached to an upper frame portion 101a of a supporting frame similar to that of the first embodiment.
03, a cylinder body 104 placed on the lower frame portion 101b of the support frame and having a cylinder chamber 105 formed therein, and a food product (actually a flexible sealed bag, Specifically, a pressure chamber 107 into which A is inserted, which is covered with a vinyl bag or the like, is formed, and a cylindrical pressure container (cylindrical pressure container) is slidably arranged in the cylinder chamber 105 in the vertical direction. Body 106, a plurality of lifting cylinder devices (moving devices) 100 that are connected to the upper flange portion 106a of the pressure container 106 to move the pressure container 106 up and down, and the cylinder chamber 105.
A piston body 10 that is arranged inside and below the cylinder body 104, and has a rod portion 108b projecting on the upper surface of the piston portion 108a that fits into the pressure chamber 107.
8, hollow first and second rod members 111 and 112 provided over the upper flange portion 106a and the lower flange portion 106b of the pressure vessel 106, and the piston body 1
Hydraulic unit (pressurizing unit) 114 for supplying hydraulic pressure (an example of a pressurized working fluid) to the first space chamber 121 formed between the lower surface of 08 and the inner bottom surface of the cylinder body 104.
And a second flange formed between the upper surface of the lower flange portion 106b of the pressure vessel 106 and the inner upper surface of the cylinder chamber 105.
The first communication passage 115 that communicates the interior of the space chamber 122 and the interior of the pressure chamber 107, the interior of the third space chamber 123 formed between the upper surface of the piston portion 108a and the lower surface of the pressure container 106, and the pressure chamber 107. And a second communication passage 116 communicating with the inside of the second and third space chambers 122, 1
The inside of 23 is filled with water as a pressure medium.

The first communication passage 115 is constituted by a first communication hole 131 formed inside the first rod member 111 and a first hole portion 133 formed inside the upper flange portion 106a of the pressure vessel 106. The one end of the first communication hole 131 is opened to the second space chamber 122, and
One end of the hole 133 is opened to the pressure chamber 107, and the other ends of the first communication hole 131 and the first hole 133 are connected to each other.

The second communication passage 116 is formed by a second communication hole 132 formed inside the second rod member 112 and a second hole portion 134 formed inside the upper flange portion 106a of the pressure vessel 106. Configured, the second communication hole 132
One end of the second hole 134 is opened to the pressure chamber 107, and one end of the second hole 134 is opened to the pressure chamber 107.
Further, the other end of the second communication hole 132 is connected to the middle part of the second hole 134. A check valve 135 for allowing the fluid to move from the pressure chamber 107 side is provided in the middle of one end of the second communication hole 132, and the second hole portion 1 is also provided.
The other end of 34 is opened to the side wall of the pressure vessel 106, and this opening is connected to the auxiliary tank 1 via the connecting pipe 136.
Connected to 37.

Further, in the lower flange portion 106b of the pressure vessel 106, the inside of the second space chamber 122 and the third space chamber 12 are formed.
A through hole (third communication passage) 138 that communicates with the inside of the No. 3 is formed, and in the middle of this through hole 138, the fluid of the third space chamber 123 side flows only into the second space chamber 122 side. Further, a check valve 139 is interposed. An air vent valve 140 is provided on the upper wall portion 104a of the cylinder body 104.

Then, the second and third space chambers 12 described above.
Water, which is water (an example of a pressure medium), is filled in 2,123. Further, on the lower surface of the lid body 3, a protrusion portion 3 that can be fitted into a pressure chamber 7 formed on the pressure vessel 6 side.
a is formed.

The hydraulic unit 114 has a hydraulic supply pipe 14 for supplying hydraulic pressure into the first space chamber 121 through a hydraulic supply hole 141 formed in the cylinder body 104.
2, an electromagnetic switching valve (not shown) interposed in the middle of the hydraulic pressure supply pipe 142, a hydraulic pump (not shown) for supplying hydraulic pressure, an oil tank and the like.

A water supply unit 144 is connected in the middle of the connecting pipe 136 via an electromagnetic switching valve 143.

Next, the operation of applying a high pressure to food in the above-mentioned structure will be described. First, as shown in FIG.
By the lift cylinder device 100, the piston body 10
8 is moved downward, food A is placed in the pressure chamber 107.
Insert. Of course, at this time, the second space chamber 122 is filled with water.

Next, the lift cylinder device 100 is operated to raise the pressure vessel 106. Then, the second
Water in the space chamber 122 flows into the pressure chamber 107 via the first communication passage 115.

The pressure vessel 106 is raised when the lid 10
It is performed until the protrusion 103a of No. 3 closes the inside of the pressure chamber 107. At this time, the excess water that has flowed into the pressure chamber 107 passes through the second communication passage 116 and the pressure container 106 and the piston portion 1.
08a into the third space chamber 123 formed between
Among them, a part is through the second hole 134 and the auxiliary tank 13
It is discharged into 7.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the projecting portion 103a of the lid 103 is completely inserted into the pressure chamber 107, the hydraulic unit 114 is actuated to move the hydraulic pressure into the first space chamber 121. Is supplied, the piston body 108 is raised, the water in the pressure chamber 107 is pressurized, and a high pressure of several thousand atmospheric pressure is applied to the food A.

When the application of high pressure is completed, the hydraulic pressure in the first space chamber 121 is released, and the pressure cylinder 106 is lowered by the lift cylinder device 100 to take out the food A after the high pressure treatment.

When the pressure vessel 106 descends, the water in the third space chamber 123 passes through the communication hole 138 and then flows into the second space chamber 1.
It flows into 22. At this time, since the oil film of the hydraulic oil of the piston body 108 mixes with the water as the pressure medium, the communication hole 138
Includes a protruding portion 138 protruding downward from the pressure vessel 106.
A is provided, and a recess 106c for accommodating the protruding portion 138a is formed on the piston body 106 side.

As described above, also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the high-pressure processing operation of food can be easily performed, and the water as the pressure medium is automatically supplied and discharged. Can be done.

Further, in the second embodiment, the pressure vessel 106 is shown as an integral body, but of course, as in the first embodiment, the pressure vessel 106 may be composed of a container body and a protective cylinder. Good.

By the way, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the food has been described as the object to be treated, but it can be applied to other than food.

[0047]

As described above, according to each constitution of the present invention,
Since the cylindrical body in which the pressure chamber for applying a high pressure to the object to be processed is formed and the main piston body or the piston body for applying a high pressure to the pressure chamber of the cylindrical body can be moved up and down,
The object to be processed can be inserted into and taken out of the pressure chamber very easily, and unlike the conventional device that swings a part of the frame or moves the pressure vessel, it is necessary. It requires very little working space.

Further, since the pressure medium is supplied to and discharged from the pressure chamber in association with the movement of the cylindrical body, the pressure medium can be automatically supplied and discharged.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a high-pressure processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts for explaining a pressurized state in the high-pressure processing apparatus of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic overall front view of the high-pressure processing apparatus of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a high-pressure processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of main parts for explaining a pressurization start state in the high-pressure processing apparatus of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts for explaining a pressurized state in the high-pressure processing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Support Frame 1a Upper Frame 1b Lower Frame 2 Working Space 3 Lid 4 Main Cylinder Body 5 Main Cylinder Chamber 6 Pressure Vessel 7 Pressure Chamber 8 Main Piston Body 8a Piston 8b Rod Part 11 First Main Space Chamber 12 Second main space chamber 13 Third main space chamber 14 Hydraulic unit 21 Sub cylinder body 22 Sub cylinder chamber 23 Sub piston body 23a Piston portion 23b Rod portion 24, 25 Through hole 26 First sub space chamber 27 Second sub space chamber 32 Communication hole 100 Lifting cylinder device 101a Upper frame part 101b Lower frame part 103 Lid body 104 Cylinder body 105 Cylinder chamber 106 Pressure vessel 107 Pressure chamber 108 Piston body 108a Piston part 108b Rod part 111 First rod member 112 Second rod member 114 Hydraulic unit 115 First communication passage 116 Second communication Road 121 first space chamber 122 second space chamber 123 third space chamber 138 communicating hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A support frame in which a working space is formed, a lid attached to an upper frame portion in the working space of the support frame, and a lower frame portion in the working space of the support frame. And a main cylinder body having a main cylinder chamber formed therein, and a pressure chamber into which an object to be processed is formed in a central portion thereof, and a cylinder slidably arranged in the main cylinder chamber in the vertical direction. -Like body, a main piston body that is arranged in the main cylinder chamber and below the cylindrical body, and has a rod portion projecting on the upper surface of the piston portion that fits into the pressure chamber, and the main piston body A first space chamber formed between the lower surface and the inner bottom surface of the main cylinder body, a second space chamber formed between the upper surface of the piston portion and the lower surface of the cylindrical body, and the cylindrical body, Inside the main cylinder chamber A pressurizing unit for supplying and discharging a pressurized working fluid, a sub-cylinder body provided on the main cylinder body side and having a sub-cylinder chamber, and a lower piston part in a third space chamber formed between An upper rod portion slidably arranged in the sub-cylinder chamber and the sub-piston body connected to the tubular body side, and inside the sub-piston body and the tubular body,
A high-pressure processing apparatus, characterized in that a through-hole for communicating the sub-cylinder chamber and the pressure chamber is formed and a pressure medium is filled in the sub-cylinder chamber. 2. A support frame in which a working space is formed, a lid attached to an upper frame portion in the working space of the support frame, and a lower frame portion supported in the working space of the support frame. And a cylindrical body in which a cylinder chamber is formed inside, and a pressure chamber into which a workpiece is inserted is formed in the central portion and which is slidably arranged in the cylinder chamber in the vertical direction. A moving device for moving the tubular body in the vertical direction, and a rod portion which is disposed in the cylinder chamber and below the tubular body, and which is fitted on the upper surface of the piston portion so as to be fitted into the pressure chamber. A piston body, a pressurizing unit for supplying and discharging a pressurized working fluid to and from a first space chamber formed between the lower surface of the piston body and the inner bottom surface of the cylinder body, and a lower flange portion of the tubular body. Shirin A first communication passage communicating between the second space chamber and the pressure chamber, the third communication passage being formed between the upper surface of the piston portion and the lower surface of the tubular body. A second communication passage that communicates the space chamber and the pressure chamber, and a third communication passage that communicates the third space chamber and the second space chamber, and the second space chamber and the third space chamber. A high-pressure processing apparatus, characterized in that a pressure medium is filled in.