JPH0681589B2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizer having a function of sterilizing a sterilizer used for sterilizing coffee, fruit juice, milk, noodle soup and other liquid foods.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing coffee, fruit juice, milk and other liquid foods, a secondary side of an indirect heat sterilizer such as a plate heat exchanger is used as a sterilizing route for these liquid foods. The device is sterilized before sterilization.

An example of this is shown in FIG. 1 is a plate heat exchanger as an indirect heat sterilizer, 2 is a heating medium, and steam or the like is used. A cooler 3 uses cooling water 4 or the like as a cooling medium. The cooler 3 may not be attached. 5
Is an object to be treated, which is sent to the secondary side of the indirect sterilizer for heat sterilization of coffee, milk, noodle soup and other liquid foods. 6 is a packing machine or a tank for bottling and storing the sterilized object 5. Reference numeral 7 is a balance tank, and 8 is a pump, which feeds the object 5 to be processed into the indirect heat sterilizer 1.

In the structure of this conventional example, in order to sterilize the sterilization device, a three-way switching valve 11 is provided, a hot water circulation pipe 12 is provided between the sterilization device and the balance tank 7, and the balance tank 7, pump 8 and A circulation path A returning from the indirect heat sterilizer 1, the cooler 3, the three-way switching valve 11, the hot water circulation pipe 12 to the balance tank 7 is provided, and hot water of about 90 degrees is circulated for about 20 minutes.

Further, for the sterilization of the packing machine 6, the steam 13 is filtered through a high-performance filter 14 to remove impurities such as iron contained in the steam, and the steaming piping 15 for sterilization is used to sterilize the packing machine 6 and the like. Road B is used.

[0006]

In the conventional example having the above-mentioned structure, the circulation route A and the sterilization route B for inserting hot water are required in the sterilization route and the route such as the packing machine and the like. Sterilizing steam piping with filter 14
It was a complicated route such as the provision of 15 and there were problems such as long time required for sterilizing the filling machine with warm water.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned difficulties and to enable the sterilizing function by generating steam in the sterilizing route.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of surely sterilizing a packing machine, a tank, and the like as well as an indirect heat sterilizer.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a sterilizing apparatus having a sterilizing path for an object to be treated on the secondary side of an indirect heating sterilizer such as a plate heat exchanger,
An automatic open / close valve is provided between the pump and the heat sterilizer, the heating medium flows into the primary side of the indirect heat sterilizer, the pump is started on the secondary side, and a minute amount of fresh water from the balance tank is instantaneously sterilized. The sterilization device was provided with a control unit such as a timer for controlling the steam to be introduced into the steamer.

[0009]

In the present invention, the automatic opening / closing valve is provided between the pump and the indirect heating sterilizer, and the timer and other control units for controlling the pump and the automatic opening / closing valve are provided. After sending the heating medium, the control unit starts the pump to increase the pressure by sending out the fresh water in the balance tank, and then the instantaneous opening of the automatic open / close valve allows a small amount of fresh water to be discharged. It is introduced to the secondary side of the indirect heat sterilizer and changes into steam. Therefore, this steam can sterilize not only the secondary side but also the cooler and the packing machine or the tank in order. By repeating the opening and closing of the automatic on-off valve with a timer or the like, a more reliable sterilizing action can be realized.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction will be described below with reference to the drawings shown as embodiments. The configurations of 1 to 8 are the same as the conventional example.
The cooler 3 may not be attached. An automatic opening / closing valve 9 is provided between the pump 8 and the indirect heating sterilizer 1 on the sterilization path x. The automatic opening / closing valve 9 is controlled to be opened / closed by a control unit 10 such as a timer. Further, the control unit 10 also controls the starting of the pump 8, and is controlled so as to send out a minute amount of fresh water from the balance tank 7 after the heating medium 2 has been sent to the primary side of the indirect heating sterilizer, and the sending pressure by the pump pressure. In the state that the temperature rises, the automatic open / close valve is opened and closed instantaneously to realize the phase change from water to steam.

With this steam, the indirect heat sterilizer, the cooler, the packing machine, etc. can be sequentially heat sterilized. The automatic open / close valve is controlled so as to stop the pump after it is closed.

[0012]

According to the present invention, after the heating medium is fed to the primary side of the indirect heating sterilizer, a small amount of fresh water is momentarily fed to the secondary side sterilization path through the automatic opening / closing valve. . Therefore, the fresh water is steamed by the heating medium, and the steam sterilization is performed not only on the indirect heating sterilizer and the cooler but also on the packing machine or the tank, so that a reliable sterilization effect can be obtained in a short time. Further, in the present invention, compared to sterilization with hot water, there is no need for a hot water circuit through a three-way switching valve or a steam pipe for installing a filter dedicated to a packing machine, and simple and quick pre-sterilization can be achieved. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow sheet diagram of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a conventional example

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Indirect heat sterilizer 2 Heating medium 7 Balance tank 8 Pump 9 Automatic opening / closing valve 10 Control unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sterilizer having an indirect heat sterilizer, such as a plate heat exchanger, provided with a sterilizing path for an object to be treated on the secondary side thereof, wherein an automatic opening / closing valve is provided between the pump and the heat sterilizer, After injecting the heating medium into the primary side of the heat sterilizer, start the pump on the secondary side, and control a timer etc. that controls to instantaneously feed a small amount of fresh water from the balance tank to the sterilization path and steam it. A sterilizing device having a section.