JPH09163961A - High-frequency heat-sterilizing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high frequency sterilizing apparatus, having simple structure and capable of surely apply sterilizing treatment to a retort food at high temperature under high pressure while reducing facility cost. SOLUTION: This sterilizing apparatus 1 is obtained by heating and sterilizing a hermetically sealed food P by a flexible material by dielectric heating due to application of high frequency electric power and the apparatus 1 comprises a lid body 22 as the upper electrode to which high frequency electric power from high frequency wave generating means 3 is applied and a container body 21 as lower electrode. The apparatus 1 is equipped with a food sterilizing container 2 for housing the opposite electrode in hermetically sealed state, a pressure-raising means 4 for raising pressure in the food sterilizing container 2 and a pressing means for pressing the container 2 in order to hermetically seal the food sterilizing container 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to heat sterilization of so-called packaged food, in which cooked, semi-cooked or uncooked food is sealed in a plastic packaging container such as a plastic bag or tray. The present invention relates to a high-frequency heat sterilizer used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art So-called packaged foods, in which foods are sealed in plastic packaging containers such as plastic bags and trays, are prepared by filling cooked or semi-cooked foods into packaging containers and then heat sterilizing them before shipping. Processing is performed. This heat sterilization was generally done by boiling or adding steam, but in recent years, shortening the heating time suppresses the deterioration of the taste and flavor of food and irradiates it with microwaves to improve the quality. Microwave heat sterilization for heating by heating and electric heat sterilization for heating food by directly energizing it have been adopted.

Regarding microwave heating sterilization for foods, JP-B-59-34311, JP-B-60-8710, JP-B-60-21975, or JP-A-60-120970. Etc.

Regarding the electric heating and sterilization, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-187
-319499, Japanese Utility Model Publication 7-26949,
JP-B 7-28875, JP-B 7-34720, JP-B 7-37516, and JP-B 7-755.
No. 21 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-97553.

[0005]

By the way, in the above microwave heat sterilization, microwaves have a low permeability to the inside of foods, and compared with high frequency, the thickness of the object to be heated is about 10 mm to 20 mm. There is a limit that uniform heating can be performed by waves, and there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to uniformly heat a material having a thickness of more than 20 mm to the central portion thereof. Especially when the food is heated rapidly for about 1 to 2 minutes, the temperature difference between the surface layer and the central part of the food becomes large, a uniform temperature distribution cannot be obtained, and complete sterilization cannot be performed. Inconvenience occurs.

Further, even if the object to be heated is a thin object having a thickness of 10 mm or less, if the object to be heated has, for example, a planar shape, the microwave frequency is so high that the electric field strength in the heating chamber is high. It is difficult to evenly heat the object to be heated due to the large variation in temperature and the occurrence of the edge effect that concentrates on the corners of the object to be heated. It has a problem that an unsterilized part remains. In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to lengthen the heating time, but if this is done, the taste and flavor of the food will be impaired.

[0007] Further, in the electrothermal sterilization, the food itself is regarded as an electric conductor, the electrodes are directly inserted into the electric current, and the food is sterilized by the Joule heat generated by supplying an electric current. If a packaged food is to be sterilized by electric heating, the food that has been sterilized must be packaged in an aseptic state, which requires excessive equipment costs and is not practical. .

If the packaged food is not sterilized by heating after heat sterilization, the temperature suitable for the growth of bacteria is prolonged for a long time during the cooling period. The deterioration of food progresses, and the taste and flavor of food are impaired.

Therefore, it is conceivable to supply high frequency to the packaged food to heat and sterilize it, and to rapidly cool the food after sterilization. In this case, the sealed packaged food is placed between the high frequency electrodes, and the object to be heated is heated uniformly from the inside by dielectrically heating the object to be heated, and a uniform sterilization treatment of the packaged food is realized. It is possible to prevent the taste and flavor of food from being impaired.

By the way, when heat sterilizing a packaged food by using high frequency, so-called high temperature sterilization of heating the food to 100 ° C. or higher is desirable (usually, it is heated to 120 to 140 ° C. in the heat sterilization of 100 ° C. or higher). ), When it is attempted to heat the packaged food to a high temperature of 100 ° C. or higher by high frequency heating, the heating atmosphere must be set to a pressure of atmospheric pressure or higher while the packaged food is sandwiched between the electrode plates. Under the present circumstances, it is structurally difficult, and in heat sterilization using high frequency heating, there is no one that can maintain a pressure higher than normal pressure. In addition, at present, there is no heat sterilizer that rapidly cools packaged food after high frequency heating.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-frequency heat sterilizer capable of surely sterilizing packaged foods under high temperature and high pressure conditions and not impairing the taste and flavor of foods.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A high-frequency heat sterilizer for sterilizing packaged foods to 100 ° C. or higher by dielectric heating by supplying high-frequency power, the counter electrode being supplied with high-frequency power while holding the packaged food, and at least the counter electrode. It is characterized in that it is provided with a hermetically sealed container for keeping the holding space of the airtight and an atmospheric pressure changing means for pressurizing the inside of the hermetically sealed container.

According to the present invention, the packaged food is held between the upper electrode and the lower electrode while the packaged food is loaded in the sealed container. In this state, the pressure in the sealed container is increased by driving the atmospheric pressure changing means, and a high frequency from the high frequency generating circuit is applied to both electrodes, whereby the packaged food is dielectrically heated and sterilized. And since the pressure inside the sealed container is higher than normal pressure, it becomes possible to heat the packaged food to 100 ° C. or higher,
This allows the sterilization treatment to be performed efficiently.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the hermetically sealed container includes the counter electrode and an insulating side wall member sandwiched between the counter electrodes. It is a thing.

According to the present invention, by pressing and sandwiching the side wall member between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, both electrodes are opposed to each other in an insulated state, and a high frequency heating space surrounded by the side wall member is formed between both electrodes. It will be in the state of being. Therefore, the packaged food is preliminarily loaded in this high-frequency heating space, and the packaged food inside is subjected to high-frequency heating in a sealed state by applying a high frequency to both electrodes while the side wall member is pressed and sandwiched between the upper electrode and the lower electrode. . Further, by interposing the side wall member between both electrodes, it becomes possible to easily form the high-frequency heating space in a sealed state.

The third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect.
In the invention described above, a cooling means for cooling the packaged food in the sealed container is provided.

According to the present invention, when the sterilization treatment in the sealed container is completed, the inside of the packaged food, which was in a high pressure state due to the high temperature, becomes low pressure by cooling the inside of the sealed container by the cooling means. Even if the sealed container is opened, the packaged food container is not damaged, and it is effective in accelerating the work of taking out the packaged food from the sealed container after the sterilization treatment is completed. Further, by rapidly cooling the packaged food after the sterilization is completed, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the taste and flavor of the food.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, an auxiliary heating means for auxiliary heating the packaged food in the packaging container is provided. Is.

According to this invention, the sealed container is preheated by the auxiliary heating means, so that the portion of the packaged food which is in contact with the counter electrode is heated while the packaged food is loaded in the sealed container. It is heated by heat transfer from the counter electrode. Therefore, the inside of the packaged food is heated by high-frequency heating, but the part in contact with the counter electrode is cooled by the electrode with a low temperature on the contrary, the temperature distribution of the packaged food becomes uneven, and the packaged food is reliably and quickly The conventional problem that sterilization cannot be performed is solved, which contributes to the realization of rapid sterilization.

Further, by raising the temperature to the sterilization temperature by high frequency heating and then holding the elevated temperature for a predetermined time by using an auxiliary heating means, the sterilization temperature can be maintained easily and It becomes possible to do it stably,
It is effective for efficient heat sterilization. Further, the auxiliary heating means contributes to uniform heating when the temperature of the packaged food is increased by using it together with the temperature increase by the high frequency heating.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the hermetically sealed container is a casing, an introducing portion for introducing packaged food into the casing, and a lead-out for extracting the packaging container from the casing. And a transfer means for transferring the packaged food from the introduction part toward the extraction part, wherein the counter electrode is arranged so as to hold the packaged food transferred by the transfer means. To do.

According to the present invention, the packaged food is introduced into the casing through the introduction section, is transferred between the counter electrodes by the transfer means, is subjected to dielectric heating between the counter electrodes, and is passed through the lead section. Are out of the system. Since the sealed state in the casing can be maintained even when the packaged food is taken in and out, even if the packaged food is sequentially taken in and out of the casing, the inside of the container is not depressurized. Further, by sequentially introducing the packaged food into the sealed container, the packaged food can be continuously sterilized.

[0023]

1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a first embodiment of a high-frequency heating and sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention, showing a state in which a lid is opened. FIG.
Shows a state in which the lid of the high-frequency heat sterilizer shown in FIG. 1 is closed. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. As shown in these figures, a high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus 1 includes a food sterilization container (sealed container) 2 for containing a hermetically sealed packaged food P, and a high frequency generator for applying a high frequency to the hermetically sealed packaged food P in the food sterilization container 2. 3, pressure increasing means (atmospheric pressure changing means) 4 for increasing the pressure inside the food sterilization container 2, and temperature adjusting means (temperature changing means) for adjusting the temperature of the food sterilization container 2
5 is formed.

The food sterilization container 2 is composed of a metal container body 21 having a square shape in a plan view and a metal lid 22 corresponding to the container body 21. A square-shaped recess having a flat bottom is formed at the center of the surface of the container body 21, and the recess forms a sterilization chamber 23 for containing the sealed packaged food P. In the first embodiment, the container body 21 itself is the high frequency generating means 3
The lower electrode is used as the lower electrode, and the lid 22 itself is used as the upper electrode. High frequency is a few K
Although the frequency band of Hz to several hundred MHz is used, in the present embodiment, the high frequency of 3 MHz to 300 MHz is used.

On the inner peripheral surface of the sterilization chamber 23, an annular seal member (side wall member) 24 is mounted in close contact with the inner peripheral wall. In this embodiment, the seal member 24 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, which is a material having excellent heat resistance and being extremely tough. The vertical width dimension of the seal member 24 is set larger than the depth dimension of the sterilization chamber 23, whereby the seal member 24 is
Has its upper part projecting upward from the edge of the sterilization chamber 23 when it is mounted in the sterilization chamber 23. An O-ring 241 (FIG. 3) made of synthetic rubber is provided at the center of the front and back surfaces of the seal member 24 in the width direction, so that the sealing effect in the sterilization chamber 23 is improved.

The lid 22 has a protruding edge portion 22a protruding downward on the outer peripheral portion thereof. The protruding edge portion 22a is externally fitted to the seal member 24 protruding upward from the sterilization chamber 23 in a sliding contact state, and the ceiling portion of the lid body 22 is fitted with the seal member 24 via the O-ring 241. It is set to stop on the upper surface of the.

Therefore, the protruding edge portion 22a is attached to the seal member 24.
By closing the upper surface opening of the container main body 21 with the lid 22 so as to be externally fitted to, the upper surface portion of the seal member 24 abuts on the ceiling portion of the lid body 22 with the O-ring 241 being flat, Due to this sealing effect, the sterilization chamber 23 is sealed to the outside, and the container body 21 and the lid 22 are electrically insulated from each other. Even if the sealing member 24 does not come into contact with the ceiling portion of the lid body 22, the O-ring 241 abuts on the ceiling portion, so that there is no problem with the sealing effect.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the sealed packaged food P is loaded in the container body 21 in a vertically and horizontally aligned state,
As shown in FIG. 1, with the lid 22 closing the upper opening of the container body 21, the depth of the sterilization chamber 23 is set so that the surface of the sealed packaged food P contacts the ceiling surface of the lid 22. Has been done.

The sealed packaged food P has a small thickness,
When the sealed packaged food P is loaded in the sterilization chamber 23 and its surface does not come into contact with the ceiling surface of the lid body 22, a raised plate 29 made of a metal material such as aluminum is attached to the bottom of the container body 21. It is attached so that the thinness of the sealed packaged food P is compensated. If several kinds of raised plates 29 having different thickness dimensions are prepared in advance, it becomes possible to deal with a plurality of types of hermetically sealed food P by exchanging them.

In the present embodiment, the lid 22
The pressing means 25 is provided on the upper surface of the
By pressing the lid 22 downward by means of the above, the sealed state in the sterilization chamber 23 is ensured. Specifically, the pressing means 25 has a straight shape in the center of the lid body 22 and is supported by a support frame (not shown) and hangs down.
6 and a piston rod 27 protruding downward from the hydraulic cylinder 26. The lower end of the piston rod 27 is connected to a connecting member 28 fixed to the lid body 22, and the protrusion / withdrawal of the piston rod 27 due to the driving of the hydraulic cylinder 26 is transmitted to the lid body 22 via the connecting member 28. ing. In this embodiment, the pressing means 25 and the seal member 24 form a sealing means according to the present invention.

The connecting member 28 is a square connecting plate 28a having substantially the same size as the lid 22, and the connecting plate 28a.
And a bracket 28b protruding from the central portion of the upper surface of the. The bracket 28b is formed in a forked shape at the upper side, and the horizontal axis is inserted into the bracket 28b and the tip end portion of the piston rod 27 in a state where the tip end portion of the piston rod 27 is sandwiched between the forked ends. And the connecting member 28 are coupled to each other.

A predetermined number of columnar insulating members 28c are interposed between the bracket 28b and the lid body 22, so that the pressing means 25 and the lid body 22 are electrically insulated from each other. ing. In the present embodiment, the columnar insulating member 28c is made of polyacetal resin or silicon resin.

The pressurizing means (atmospheric pressure changing means) 4 is a pressurizing pump 41 for compressing and discharging the sucked outside air, a high pressure pipe 42 arranged between the pressurizing pump 41 and the container body 21, A first control valve 43 provided in the high-pressure pipe 42,
A high pressure tank 44 is provided between the first control valve 43 and the pressurizing pump 41.

The high pressure tank 44 includes a pressurizing pump 41.
Is always filled with compressed air of a predetermined pressure set by driving, and the pressurizing pump 41 is automatically stopped when the high-pressure tank 44 is filled with air of a predetermined pressure by feedback control. is there. Therefore, by opening and closing the first control valve 43, air of a predetermined pressure is constantly supplied into the sterilization chamber 23 through the high pressure pipe 42.

The container body 21 has a sterilization chamber 2 on the base end side.
Air vent pipe 45 that communicates with 3 and has its tip open to the outside air
Is provided, and a second control valve 46 is provided in the middle of the air vent pipe 45. Therefore, the sterilization chamber 23, which is closed by closing the lid 22, has the second control valve 4
By opening 6 it is communicated with the outside and the sealed state is released.

The temperature adjusting means 5 is arranged in a meandering state inside the steam generating source (auxiliary heating means) 51 including a boiler, a cooling water supply source (cooling means) 52 such as water supply, and the container body 21. The container body temperature control pipe 53 and the lid body temperature control pipe 54 arranged in a meandering state inside the lid 22 are formed.

The steam generation source 51 has a steam supply main pipe 51a for leading out the generated steam. The downstream end of the steam supply main pipe 51a is branched into two steam supply branch pipes 51b, and each steam supply branch pipe 51b is connected to the upstream end of the container body temperature control pipe 53. The upstream end of the cooling water supply main 52a is connected to the cooling water supply source 52, and
The downstream end thereof is branched into two cooling water supply branch pipes 52b, and the downstream end of each cooling water supply branch pipe 52b is connected to a container body temperature control pipe 53 and a lid body temperature control pipe 54, respectively. A flexible tube made of synthetic resin (not shown) is provided between the steam supply branch pipe 51b and the cooling water supply branch pipe 52b at appropriate positions, whereby the steam supply branch pipe 51b and the cooling water supply branch pipe 52b are connected to the upstream side of the flexible tube and the food. It is insulated from the sterilization container 2.

The steam supply main pipe 51a is provided with a third control valve 55, and the container body temperature control pipe 53 is provided with a fourth control valve 56. These control valves 55, 56 are provided. Each temperature control pipe 5 by opening and closing
3, 54 is supplied with steam from a steam generation source 51 or is supplied with cooling water from a cooling water supply source 52, whereby the temperature of the food sterilization container 2 and thus the sterilization chamber 23 is loaded. The temperature of the sealed packaged food P is adjusted.

The downstream ends of the container body temperature control pipe 53 and the lid body temperature control pipe 54 are open ends that are open toward the outside, and the steam and cooling water supplied to these temperature control pipes 53 and 54 are food sterilized. After being used for controlling the temperature of the container 2, it is discharged to the outside of the system through the open end.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the high frequency generating means according to the present invention. As shown in this figure, the high-frequency generating means 3 includes a control circuit 31 for integrally controlling the high-frequency temperature raising apparatus 1, an operation section 32 for inputting various operation data to the control circuit 31, and a pair of high-frequency waves. High frequency generator 33 for supplying high frequency power to the counter electrode 2.
It has.

The control circuit 31 controls the supply of electric power to the high frequency generator 33 based on the operation data input via the operation unit 32. The operation unit 32 is provided with operation buttons 320 including a start button 32a, a stop button 32b, and the like, and a data input key 321 for inputting the type and weight of the sealed packaged food P.

The above-mentioned start button 32a and stop button 3
The operation signal from 2b is output to the control circuit 31 as a control signal via the control circuit 31. Then, when the start button 32a is operated, the operation of the high frequency generator 33 is started, the drive motor 43 is started to be driven, and when the stop button 32b is operated, the operation of the high frequency generator 33 is stopped, and The rotational drive of the drive motor 43 is also stopped.

The high frequency generator 33 includes a power supply circuit 34,
It is provided with a high frequency generating circuit 35 that generates high frequency by obtaining power from the power supply circuit 34, and a matching circuit 36 provided downstream of the high frequency generating circuit 35.
The power supply circuit 34 functions to convert, for example, a commercial power supply of 220 V into a DC power supply of a predetermined level. The high frequency generating circuit 35 is a self-excited oscillation type high frequency generating circuit that obtains a predetermined level of DC voltage from the power supply circuit 34 and generates a required level of high frequency energy. Further, the matching circuit 36 is a load (sealed packaged food P) passing between the high frequency generation circuit 35 and the pair of high frequency counter electrodes 2.
Is a circuit for matching with, and has a transformer for matching and a matching capacitor (not shown).

Further, the control circuit 31 can set a power supply amount experimentally obtained in advance according to the type, amount and thickness of the hermetically sealed food P. This setting is performed by key-in using the data input key 321. When an input is made from the data input key 321, the output power from the power supply circuit 34 is set based on a previously stored arithmetic program. I have to.

Further, the control circuit 31 uses the data input key 3
The electric power calculated and set based on the data such as the type and weight of the sealed packaged food P input from 21 is individually controlled so as to be supplied to the high frequency counter electrode 2. In this case, the electric power from the power supply circuit 34 can be adjusted by intermittent driving and supplied to the high frequency generation circuit 35. Therefore, by adjusting one or both of the length of the driving time and the driving frequency per unit time, it becomes possible to supply the calculated and set electric power to the high frequency generation circuit 35.

When the high frequency is intermittently supplied, for example, when the driving time and the rest time are both set to about 5 seconds, the heat given during the driving time is diffused in the rest time. That is, the temperature distribution is made uniform, that is, uniform heating is performed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of a sterilization process performed by using the high-frequency heating sterilizer of the first embodiment.
(A) is a process diagram, and (B) is a graph showing a time-dependent change in temperature of the hermetically sealed packaged food in each step executed in a state where the hermetically packaged food is loaded in a food sterilization container. First, as shown in (a) of FIG.
Loading step X1 for loading into the sterilization chamber 23, and sterilization chamber step X for heating the sealed packaged food P loaded in the sterilization chamber 23
2 and a take-out step X3 for taking out the sealed packaged food P that has been sterilized in the sterilization chamber step X2.

In the sterilization chamber step X2,
A temperature raising step X21 for raising the temperature of the sealed packaged food P to a sterilization temperature of 100 ° C. or higher, a sterilization step X22 for holding the sterilization temperature of the sealed packaged food P raised in the temperature raising step X21 for a predetermined period of time, and Cooling step X23 for cooling the sterilized hermetically sealed packaged food P after maintaining the temperature for a predetermined time to approximately room temperature
Are sequentially executed. In the cooling step X23, as shown by the temperature drop line in the upper part of FIG. 5B, the temperature is cooled down to a minimum of 100 ° C., but in some cases, the temperature in the lower part of FIG. It is cooled to room temperature as shown by the straight line. In addition, sealed packaged food P
The cooling process may be arbitrarily set between the upper temperature drop line and the lower temperature drop line according to the situation.

First, in the loading step X1, the sealed packaged food P is loaded into the sterilization chamber 23 of the container body 21.
At the time of loading, the sealed packaged foods P are arranged at the bottom of the sterilization chamber 23 so as to be aligned vertically and horizontally. After that, the piston rod 27 is lowered by driving the hydraulic cylinder 26, and the lid 22 is lowered by this to close the upper opening of the sterilization chamber 23.

When the upper opening of the sterilization chamber 23 is closed, as shown in FIGS.
Has its protruding edge portion 22a fitted onto the outer peripheral edge portion of the seal member 24, and the ceiling surface presses and stops the upper surface of the seal member 24, thereby ensuring the sealed state of the sterilization chamber 23. It is in the state of being Moreover, in this state, the front and back surfaces of the sealed packaged food P loaded in the sterilization chamber 23 are in contact with the bottom surface of the container body 21 and the ceiling surface of the lid body 22. Even in the loading process X1,
The third control valve 55 is kept open, and the heating of the food sterilization container 2 by the steam from the steam generation source 51 is continued.

Then, the sterilization chamber step X2 is executed. In the sterilization chamber process X2, first, the first control valve 43 is opened and the compressed air from the high pressure tank 44 is introduced into the sterilization chamber 23, whereby the sterilization chamber 23 has a predetermined high pressure state (for example, 2 to 2). 5 atmospheres). Sterilization room 2
The first control valve 43 is closed when the inside of 3 reaches a predetermined high pressure state. The high pressure inside the sterilization chamber 23 is to prevent the packaging container of the hermetically sealed packaged food P from breaking due to the expansion of air in the hermetically sealed packaged food P due to heating.

In the first temperature raising step X21 after the sterilization chamber 23 has reached a predetermined high pressure, the high frequency generating means 3 is driven and the high frequency power supplied from the high frequency generating circuit is supplied to the container body 21 and the lid. The sealed packaged food P, which is supplied between the opposed electrodes formed of the body 22, is rapidly heated by dielectric heating, as shown in FIG. And
The sealed packaged food P has a preset temperature (for example, 130 to
When the temperature reaches 150 ° C., the driving of the high frequency generator 3 is stopped and the process proceeds to the sterilization step X22.

In the sterilization step X22, the temperature (for example, 130 to 150 ° C.) of the hermetically sealed packaged food P is maintained for a predetermined time only by supplying steam from the steam generating source 51, and the hermetically sealed package is maintained by maintaining the temperature for the predetermined time. The food P is substantially sterilized. Then, when the sterilization process in the sterilization process X22 for a predetermined time is completed, the next cooling process X23 is executed.

In the cooling step X23, first, the third control valve 55 is closed, whereby the steam supply from the steam generation source 51 to the food sterilization container 2 is stopped. Then, the fourth control valve 56 is opened, and the cooling water from the cooling water supply source 52 is supplied with the container body temperature control pipe 53 and the lid body temperature control pipe 5.
4, the sealed packaged food P in the sterilization chamber 23 is cooled to about room temperature as shown in (b) of FIG. After that, the second control valve 46 is opened, the compressed air in the sterilization chamber 23 is discharged to the outside of the system, and the inside of the sterilization chamber 23 is brought to normal pressure. This cooling process avoids maintaining a temperature suitable for bacterial growth for a long time,
Bacterial re-growth is effectively suppressed.

When the sealed packaged food P is cooled to about room temperature in the cooling step X23, the next take-out step X
3, the lid 22 is raised by the rise of the piston rod 27 due to the drive of the hydraulic cylinder 26, and the sterilization chamber 2
3 is released. Then, the sealed packaged food P in the opened sterilization chamber 23 is taken out and sent to a predetermined process on the downstream side. By repeating each process by such batch processing using the high-frequency heat sterilizer 1, the sealed packaged food P is sequentially sterilized.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing a first modification of the high-frequency heating and sterilizing apparatus according to the first embodiment. In the high frequency heat sterilization apparatus 1a of the first modification, a seal member 24a having a large vertical width is mounted in the sterilization chamber 23 of the container body 21. In this modification, a seal member 24a having a vertical width dimension that is approximately three times the thickness dimension of the sealed packaged food P is adopted. Then, the sealed packaged food P is loaded in the sterilization chamber 23 in a stacked state of three layers, and a partition plate 24b made of an insulating material is interposed between the layers, thereby disturbing the stacked state of the three layers. I try not to. Other configurations are the same as those of the high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus 1 described above.

According to the configuration of the high frequency heat sterilization apparatus 1a of the first modification, the sealed packaged food P is loaded in the sterilization chamber 23 in a state of being laminated in a plurality of layers via the partition plate 24b, so that one batch is formed. It is possible to increase the number of pieces loaded into the sterilization chamber 23 per hit, which is effective in improving the sterilization treatment capacity.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing a second modification of the high-frequency heating and sterilizing apparatus according to the first embodiment. In the high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus 1b of the second modification, when the sealed packaged food P is loaded, a metal and plate-shaped conductive partition member 200 is arranged between the container body 21 and the lid 22. Has become.

The conductive partition member 200 is used as one electrode that receives a high frequency from the high frequency generator 3, and both the container body 21 and the lid 22 are used as the other electrode.

Further, the conductive partition member 200 has a container body 21 and a lid body 2 by a partition member attaching / detaching mechanism (not shown).
The container body 21 and the conductive partition member 200 can be attached to and detached from each other with the conductive partition member 200 mounted between the container body 21 and the lid 22.
And the lid 22 and the conductive partition member 200 are insulated from each other by an annular seal member 24, not an insulator, between the conductive partition member 200 and the container body 21 and the lid 22. I try to maintain the condition. Other configurations are similar to those of the high-frequency heat sterilizer 1 described above.

According to the structure of the high frequency heat sterilizer 1b of the second modification, the lid 22 is raised and the conductive partition member 200 is moved from the position between the container body 21 and the lid 22. The sealed packaged food P is loaded in the portion of the container body 21 surrounded by the seal member 24, and then the conductive partition member 200 is mounted on the upper portion of the container body 21 and surrounded by the seal member 24 of the conductive partition member 200. The sealed packaged food P is loaded in the portion, and finally the lid 22 is covered with the conductive partition member 20.
High frequency heat sterilizer 1b by covering the upper part of 0
The sealed packaged food P is loaded into the. Since the sealed packaged food P has two layers via the conductive partition member 200, the sterilization processing ability of the sealed packaged food P in one batch is improved.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing a third modification of the high-frequency heating and sterilizing apparatus according to the first embodiment.
Is a state in which the high-frequency heat sterilizer is set in a horizontal position,
(B) shows the state where the high-frequency heat sterilizer is set in the vertical posture, and (C) shows the state of the sealed packaged food when the high-frequency heat sterilizer is in the vertical posture.

High-frequency heat sterilization apparatus 1c of the third modification.
As shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 8, a container body 21 and a lid 22 similar to those of the high-frequency heat sterilizer 1 are used.
And a rotating structure 11 for rotating the food sterilization container 2 between a horizontal posture and a vertical posture.

The rotating structure 11 has a pair of columns 13 standing upright below the height of the floor F, and a horizontal shaft 12 supported by the columns 13 so as to be rotatable about its axis.
An unillustrated drive motor 14 for rotating the horizontal shaft 12 about its axis is provided. The horizontal axis 12 is a container body 21.
It is fixed to the center of. Further, the drive shaft of the drive motor 14 and the horizontal shaft 12 are connected via a drive belt 15, and the food sterilization container 2 is driven by the forward and reverse drive of the drive motor 14.
Rotates in the forward and reverse directions about the horizontal axis 12, whereby the food sterilization container 2 can be rotated between the horizontal posture shown in FIG. 8A and the vertical posture shown in FIG. There is.

According to the configuration of the high frequency heat sterilization apparatus 1c of the third modification, as shown in FIG. 8A, the sealed packaged food P is loaded in the sterilization chamber 23 of the food sterilization container 2 in the horizontal position. After that, by driving the drive motor 14, as shown in FIG. 8B, the food sterilization container 2 is placed in a vertical posture, so that the filled food P inside the packaging container P1 of the hermetically sealed food P is filled.
2 is in a state of moving downward in the packaging container P1 due to gravity. Therefore, the air pool P3 existing in the filled food P2
Moves to the upper side of the packaging container P1 which is oriented vertically, and there is no air pocket in the thickness direction of the sealed packaged food P.

As a result, the filled food P in the packaging container P1
Since 2 is in a state of directly contacting the container body 21 and the lid 22 via the packaging container P1, when the food sterilization container 2 is in the horizontal posture, it is obstructed by the air pool existing in the thickness direction of the sealed packaged food P, The inconvenience that the application of the high frequency to the filled food P2 varies and the filled food P2 cannot be uniformly heated is eliminated, and the effect of ensuring uniform heating of the sealed packaged food P is great.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a second embodiment of the high-frequency heat sterilizer according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the high-frequency heat sterilizer 120 has a square base 121 in a plan view, an annular rail 122 laid on an upper surface of the base 121 and composed of a pair of rails 122a and 122b, and A plurality of high-frequency heat sterilization containers 123 are movably arranged on the annular rail 122 and formed. In this embodiment, four high frequency heat sterilization containers 123 are adopted.

Four such high frequency heat sterilization containers 12
3 are mounted and fixed on a bogie 124 arranged on the annular rail 122 at equal intervals.
It is adapted to move around by the traveling guided by 22.

On the other hand, the base 121 has a rotating disk 125 projecting upward at the center thereof. Then, on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating disk 125, four protruding at equal intervals in the radial direction are formed.
A book connecting rod 126 is provided.
The front end of 6 is fixed to the dolly 124, and a drive means including a drive motor (not shown) is provided in the lower part of the rotary disk 125, and the rotary disk 125 is vertically moved by driving the drive means. It is designed to rotate around the axis. Therefore, by driving the driving means, the rotary disk 125 rotates around the vertical axis, and the traveling of the carriage 124 on the annular rail 122 causes the high-frequency heat sterilization container 123 to orbit.

The high-frequency heating sterilization container 123 is composed of a container body 123a as a lower electrode and a lid 123b as an upper electrode. Also, the dolly 124
Is a bracket 126 on the side facing the rotating disk 125.
On the other hand, an L-shaped upper lid member 127 is provided on the bracket 126 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal shaft 126a, and a lid 123b is fixed to a lower portion of the upper lid member 127. Then, the upper lid member 127 is attached to the horizontal shaft 126a.
The lid 123b can be opened and closed with respect to the container body 123a by rotating it in the forward and reverse directions.

Further, the upper lid member 127 and the rotary disk 12 are
5, a cylinder device 128 is interposed, a base end of a cylinder 128a of the cylinder device 128 is rotatably attached to a rotating disk 125, and a tip end of the piston rod 128b is an upper lid member. It is rotatably attached to 127. Therefore, the cylinder device 12
By driving 8 forward and reverse, the piston rod 12
The lid 123b is opened and closed via the 8b and the upper lid member 127.

The container body 123a has a sterilization chamber 1 having a recessed central portion for loading the sealed packaged food P.
The seal member 12 has an O-ring (not shown) on its surface at the edge of the sterilization chamber 123c.
9 is provided, and the lower surface edge of the lid 123b abuts the sealing member 129 via the O-ring in a state where the sterilization chamber 123c is closed by the lid 123b, whereby the inside of the sterilization chamber 123c is sealed. I am trying.

Then, the high frequency heat sterilizer 120 is used.
The high frequency generating means 3 is disposed in the vicinity of the high frequency generating means 3, and the high frequency is supplied from the high frequency generating means 3 to the container body 123a and the lid 123b.

A high-pressure tank (atmospheric pressure changing means) 440 for storing high-pressure air connected to the high-pressure pipe 420 is provided near the high-frequency heat sterilizer 120. The high-pressure pipe 420 is provided with a control valve 430, and its downstream end is connected to a rotary joint (not shown) provided inside the rotary disk 125. A high-pressure branch pipe 421 is arranged from this rotary joint toward each high-frequency heat sterilization container 123.
It should be noted that the rotary joint is configured such that the high pressure pipe 420 and the high pressure branch pipes 42 are in a state where the rotation of the rotary disk 125 is allowed.
1 is a fluid transfer connector for communicating with 1.

When the high frequency heat sterilization container 123 reaches the high frequency supply position β described later, the high pressure branch pipe 4 thereof is
21 and the high-pressure pipe 420 communicate with each other, and the high-pressure branch pipe 421 and the high-pressure pipe 420 communicate with each other while the high-frequency heat sterilization container 123 is moving and the sealed packaged food P is located at the food loading position α and the food heat retaining position γ described later. When the state is cut off and the sealed packaged food P is located at the food cooling position δ described later, the base end side of the high pressure branch pipe 421 (rotating disc 125).
The side) is open to the outside.

In this embodiment, a food loading position α, a high frequency supply position β, a food heat retaining position γ, and a food cooling position δ are set on each side of the base 121, and the rotary disk 125 is driven by a driving means (not shown). By the intermittent rotation of every 90 °,
Each high-frequency heat sterilization container 123 is sequentially positioned at a food loading position α, a high-frequency supply position β, a food heat retaining position γ, and a food cooling position δ.

When the high-frequency heating sterilization container 123 is at the food loading position α, the lid 123b is opened by driving the cylinder device 128, and in this state the sterilization chamber 12 is opened.
The work of taking out the hermetically sealed packaged food P from 3c and the loading of the new hermetically packaged food P into the container body 123a are performed. When the loading of the sealed packaged food P is completed, the sterilization chamber 123 is driven by driving the cylinder device 128.
It is closed by the c-cover 123b and is moved to the high frequency supply position β by the rotation of the rotary disk 125.

At the high-frequency supply position β, the high-pressure air from the high-pressure tank 440 is supplied into the high-frequency heat sterilization container 123 via a rotary joint (not shown) to bring the high-frequency heat sterilization container 123 to a predetermined high pressure state. Then, high-frequency power from the high-frequency generating means 3 is supplied to the high-frequency heating sterilization container 123, whereby the sealed packaged food P in the sterilization chamber 123c is high-frequency heated to 100 ° C. or higher. After the high-frequency heating for a predetermined time, the high-frequency heating sterilization container 123 is moved to the food heat retaining position γ, where the heat is kept for a predetermined time to be substantially sterilized, and then moved to the food heat retaining position γ. Be cooled. For this cooling, cold air or cold water is supplied to the high-frequency heating sterilization container 123. After cooling, the high-frequency heating sterilization container 123 is discharged to the normal pressure by discharging the high-pressure air inside.

Such a series of operations is sequentially executed for each high-frequency heat sterilization container 123, whereby an efficient high-frequency heat sterilization treatment of the sealed packaged food P is realized.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a third embodiment of the high-frequency heat sterilizer according to the present invention. Third
In the embodiment, the high-frequency heat sterilizer 110 is a rectangular base 111 in a plan view, and is erected on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the base 111, and has horizontal bearings 112a at the top.
A pair of left and right support frames 112, a horizontal support shaft 113 rotatably supported by the horizontal bearing 112a about an axis, and a rectangular parallelepiped rotation in which both side surfaces are integrally supported by the horizontal support shaft 113. The base 114 and the high-frequency heat sterilization container 115 provided on each of the four outer peripheral surfaces of the rotary base 114 are formed. A work step T is provided above the high-frequency heat sterilizer 110 so that the sealed packaged food P can be easily loaded and unloaded from the high-frequency heat sterilizer 110.

The horizontal support shaft 113 is a horizontal bearing 112.
While having a driven pulley 113a protruding outward from a, a drive motor 116 corresponding to the driven pulley 113a is provided on the floor F. A drive pulley 116a is provided on the drive shaft of the drive motor 116, and the drive pulley 116a and the driven pulley 113a are provided.
A communication belt 117 is stretched between the and. Then, the rotating base 114 is driven by the drive motor 116.
Are configured to co-rotate around the horizontal support shaft 113 via the drive pulley 116a, the connecting belt 117, and the driven pulley 113a.

The high frequency heat sterilization container 115 is a container body 115 as a first electrode fixed to the rotating base 114.
a and a lid 115b that closes the sterilization chamber 115c as the second electrode that is recessed in the surface of the container body 115a. These container body 115a and lid 11
The high frequency power from the high frequency generating means 3 arranged in the vicinity of the high frequency heat sterilizer 110 is supplied to the 5b through a connecting means not shown.

In this embodiment, a food loading position α, a high frequency supply position β, a food heat retaining position γ, and a food cooling position δ are set on each side of the base 111, and the drive motor 11 is set.
By the intermittent rotation of the rotary base 114 by 90 ° by 6, the respective high-frequency heat sterilization containers 115 are placed in the food loading position α, the high-frequency supply position β, the food heat retaining position γ, and the food cooling position δ.
It is located in order.

A high-pressure tank (atmospheric pressure changing means) 441 for storing high-pressure air connected to the high-pressure pipe 422 is provided near the high-frequency heat sterilizer 110. The high-pressure pipe 422 is provided with a control valve 431, and the downstream end thereof is connected to a rotary joint (not shown) provided at a proper position around the horizontal support shaft 113. A high-pressure branch pipe (not shown) is arranged from this rotary joint toward each high-frequency heat sterilization container 115.

When the high-frequency heat sterilization container 115 reaches the high-frequency supply position β, the high-pressure branch pipe and the high-pressure pipe 422 are communicated with each other, and the high-frequency heat sterilization container 115 is moving and the sealed packaged food P is in the food loading position α. And the high-pressure branch pipe and the high-pressure pipe 422 when located at the food heat retention position γ.
When the sealed packaged food P is located at the food cooling position δ when the communication state with the
14 side) is open to the outside.

On the base end sides of both sides of the lid 115b in the longitudinal direction, horizontal shafts 115d projecting outward are provided, while at the corners of both sides of the rotary base 114, outward. A bearing 114b projecting toward the side is provided, and this bearing 1
The horizontal shaft 115d is rotatably supported by 14b. As a result, the lid 115b can be rotated forward and backward around the horizontal shaft 115d to open and close the sterilization chamber 115c.

The container body 115a is a seal member 1 having an O-ring (not shown) at the edge of the sterilization chamber 115c.
18 and has the sterilization chamber 115 by the lid 115b.
The inside of the sterilization chamber 115c is hermetically closed when c is closed.

The side surface of the rotary base 114 and the lid 11
A cylinder device 119 is provided between the side edge of 5b. Then, the cylinder 119 of the cylinder device 119
The base end side of a is rotatably attached to the side portion of the rotary base 114, and the tip end portion of the piston rod 119b is rotatably attached to the side edge portion of the lid body 115b. Therefore, by driving the cylinder device 119 forward and backward, the lid 115b is opened and closed.

In this embodiment, the rotating base 114 is used.
10 is adapted to intermittently rotate clockwise around the horizontal support shaft 113 in FIG. 10, and the high-frequency heating sterilization container 115 is in a horizontal posture at the upper side, and the food loading position α and the high-frequency heating sterilization container 115 are 90 degrees from that. The drive motor 116 is rotated at a high-frequency supply position β, a high-frequency heat sterilization container 115 is in a horizontal position for keeping food at a lower temperature γ, and a high-frequency heat sterilization container 115 is at a food heat-retaining position γ further rotated by 90 °. The drive of is suspended.

While the high-frequency heating sterilization container 115 is located at the food loading position α, the lid 115b is opened by driving the cylinder device 119 to take out the sealed packaged food P from the sterilization chamber 115c and newly seal it. The loading operation of the packaged food P is performed. Then the cylinder device 119
The high-frequency heat sterilization container 115 whose lid 115b is closed by the driving of the high-pressure tank 441 is placed in the next high-frequency supply position β and is brought to a high-pressure state by introducing high-pressure air from the high-pressure tank 441. Of the high frequency power, the temperature of the sealed packaged food P in the sterilization chamber 115c is raised to 100 ° C. or higher by high frequency heating. Next, the hermetically sealed packaged food P is subjected to a substantial sterilization treatment in the heat retaining state at the food retaining position γ and cooled at the food cooling position δ. After cooling, the high-pressure air in the high-frequency heating sterilization container 115 is discharged, and the inside of the high-frequency heating sterilization container 115 is returned to normal pressure.

Such a series of operations is sequentially executed for each high-frequency heat sterilization container 115, whereby an efficient high-frequency heat sterilization treatment of the sealed packaged food P is realized.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a fourth embodiment of the high-frequency heat sterilizer according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the sealed packaged food P is continuously subjected to the temperature raising step in the sterilization treatment. The high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus 10 of the fourth embodiment has an upper electrode 61 for raising the temperature of the sealed packaged food P to a predetermined sterilization temperature and for raising the temperature.
A device body (sealed container) 10a including a pair of upper and lower opposing electrodes 6 including a lower electrode 62, and the device body 10a.
In order to maintain the inside of the apparatus main body 10a at a predetermined pressure, the high-frequency generator 3 for supplying high-frequency power to the counter electrode 6 of
A pressure increasing means 4 for sending compressed air into the apparatus main body 10a, and a hermetically loading / unloading structure 8 for introducing and withdrawing the sealed packaged food P into / from the apparatus main body 10a while maintaining a high pressure state in the apparatus main body 10a. It has a basic configuration that

High frequency generating means 3 and boosting means 4
Is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the sealed packaged food P is formed by applying a high frequency to the counter electrode 6 described later.
Is heated by high frequency, and the pressure inside the apparatus body 10a is always automatically maintained at a preset high pressure state (for example, 2 to 5 atmospheres) by opening and closing the first control valve 43. Has become.

The apparatus main body 10a has a horizontally long casing 101 having a supply portion 102 for the sealed packaged food P on one side and an outlet 103 for the sealed packaged food P on the other side, and the inside of the casing 101. It is provided with a pair of upper and lower conveyor belts 7 (transporting means) composed of an upper belt 71 and a lower belt 72 that are circulated and movable. The conveyor belt 7 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material having high-frequency transmission performance. In this embodiment, the one made of polytetrafluoroethylene is used.

The lower belt 72 is provided inside the lower half of the casing 101, and is provided with the supply section 102 and the discharge port 1.
A lower front roller 72a, a lower rear roller 72b, which are rotatably provided around the support shaft, and a plurality of lower auxiliary rollers 72c installed at appropriate places below the rollers 72a and 72b. Rear roller 72
A drive motor 73 is installed in the lower part of b, and the rotational drive of the drive motor 73 is transmitted to the rear roller 72b via the lower transmission belt 73a. Therefore,
By driving the drive motor 73, this rotation is transmitted to the lower belt 72 and the upper belt 71 via the lower transmission belt 73a and the rear roller 72b, and the lower belt 72 circulates clockwise in FIG. Is rotated counterclockwise in synchronization with the lower belt 72.

As shown in FIG. 11, a glass-covered peep window 106 is provided at an appropriate position at the center of the side of the casing 101 in the vertical direction.
Therefore, the moving state of the conveyor belt 7 in the casing 101 and the temperature rising state of the sealed packaged food P can be visually observed.

The upper belt 71 is provided in the upper half of the casing 101 so as to face the lower belt 72.
An upper front roller 71a located in the supply unit 102, a front pressing roller 71c provided immediately downstream of the upper front roller 71a, an upper rear roller 71b provided to face the upper portion of the lower rear roller 72b, and an upper portion thereof. The rear pressing roller 71 provided immediately upstream of the rear roller 71b
d, and these rollers 71a, 71b, 71c, 71
It is stretched on an upper auxiliary roller 71f disposed at a proper position above the d.

A tension roller 71g for tensioning the upper belt 71 by an appropriate urging means is provided between the pair of upper auxiliary rollers 71f 'provided on the downstream side of the upper rear roller 71b so as to be vertically movable. Has been. A pair of lower auxiliary rollers 72f 'and a tension roller 72g similar to the above are provided on the downstream side of the lower rear roller 72b.

The lower rear roller 72b and the upper rear roller 71b have the same diameter, and they are the upper transmission belt 73.
bound by b. Therefore, when the drive motor 73 is driven, this rotation is transmitted to the lower rear roller 72b via the lower transmission belt 73a and further transmitted to the upper rear roller 71b via the upper transmission belt 73b, so that the lower belt 72 is moved. And the upper belt 71 rotate at the same speed.

Then, between the front pressing roller 71c and the rear pressing roller 71d, the downwardly facing surface of the upper belt 71 and the upwardly facing surface between the lower front roller 72a and the lower rear roller 72b are hermetically packaged. A temperature raising space S is formed in which the food P is passed and the temperature is raised.

The front pressing roller 71c is arranged below the upper front roller 71a. Therefore, the upper belt 71 located between the upper front roller 71a and the front pressing roller 71c is formed with the downwardly inclined portion 44 toward the downstream side. The sealed packaged food P is smoothly moved to the temperature rising space S by being guided by the inclined portion 44.

The upstream end and the downstream end of the lower belt 72 project outward in the horizontal direction from the upstream end and the downstream end of the upper belt 71. Then, in order to accommodate the protruding lower belt 72, the lower half of the casing 101 projects forward and backward from the upper half, and the forward take-up in which the upper part for taking over the sealed packaged food P from the upstream equipment is opened to this part. Section 104 and rear takeover section 10 for taking over the hermetically sealed packaged food P whose temperature raising process has been completed to the downstream side.
5 are formed. Such take-over parts 104, 10
5, the main body 10 of the sealed packaged food P from the upstream side
Introduced into the inside of a, and the apparatus body 10a of the sealed packaged food P
It is easy to derive from within.

In the present embodiment, the flat plate-shaped upper electrode 61 is arranged on the back surface side of the upper belt 71 whose front surface faces the temperature rising space S so as to be close to or slid on the upper belt 71. At the same time, a flat plate-shaped lower electrode 62 is arranged on the back surface side of the lower belt 72 whose front surface faces the temperature raising space S in proximity to or in sliding contact with the lower belt 72.
In the present embodiment, two sets of counter electrodes 6 each including a pair of upper electrode 61 and lower electrode 62 are provided in series in the heating space S. The counter electrodes 6 are not limited to two sets, and may be one set or three or more sets.

The lower electrode 62 is fixed in the casing 101, while the upper electrode 61 is vertically movable. In order to move the upper electrode 61 up and down,
Inside the casing 101, the upper auxiliary roller 71
An electrode lifting mechanism 74 is provided between f and the upper electrode 61.

The electrode lifting mechanism 74 is used for the casing 10
1, an elevating motor 75 mounted and fixed on a supporting plate 107 horizontally arranged between a forward belt and a return belt of an upper belt 71 provided in the upper half of the inside 1.
From the direction changer 76 that converts the rotation of the rotary shaft 61a (FIG. 12) into vertical movement, and the rack shaft 77 that is provided in the direction changer 76 and that penetrates the support plate 107 and is connected to the upper electrode 61. It is configured. An unillustrated pinion concentric with the rotating shaft 61a is provided in the direction changing device 76, and the pinion and the rack shaft 77 mesh with each other. Therefore, the rotation shaft 75a is driven by the rotation drive of the lifting motor 75.
Rotation of the rack shaft 7 via the pinion.
Converted to 7 up and down movements.

A rack shaft 77 penetrating the support plate 107.
The lower end portion of is connected to a connecting plate 64 extending horizontally in the downstream direction, and the connecting plate 78 (FIG. 12) and the upper electrode 61 are connected via a connecting rod 79.

At the lower end of the connecting rod 79, a boss 79b (see FIG. 1) is provided so as to be vertically movable within a predetermined range.
2) is provided, and the boss portion 79b is provided on the upper electrode 6.
1 and the connecting rod 79 has a coil spring 79a (see FIG. 1) between the connecting plate 78 and the boss portion 79b.
2) is fitted. And this coil spring 79
Since a is biased in such a direction that the connecting plate 78 and the boss portion 79b are separated from each other, the urging force of the coil spring 79a causes the boss portion 79b to meet and the upper electrode 61 is always pressed downward. Has become.

A screw shaft may be used instead of the rack shaft 77 of the direction changer 76. This screw shaft is used as the support plate 10
7 is screwed into a female threaded bearing provided in 7,
The screw shaft can be moved up and down by converting the rotation of the rotating shaft 75a extending in the horizontal direction into the rotation of the screw shaft extending in the vertical direction via a bevel gear or the like.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, one lifting motor 75 and two lifting motors 75 are provided for one upper electrode 61.
And two direction changers 7 are used.
6 is connected to a long common rotating shaft 75a, and a pair of rack shafts 77 provided on these two direction changers 76.
One connecting plate 78 is fixed to the lower end of the. Five connecting rods 79 are provided on the lower surface of the connecting plate 78,
The lower end portions of these five connecting rods 79 are the upper surface portion of the upper electrode 61 and are fixed at a target position with respect to the center of gravity thereof.

Therefore, the upper electrode 6 at the predetermined height position
1, the lifting motor 75 is driven to rotate the rotary shaft 75a,
Connecting rod 79 via rack shaft 77 and connecting plate 78
When is lowered, the upper electrode 61 is lowered as shown by the solid line and presses the upper belt 71 downward, so that the vertical width of the heating space S formed between the upper belt 71 and the lower belt 72 is lowered. Becomes smaller, and conversely, the vertical movement of the lift motor 75 causes the upper electrode 61 to rise, so that the vertical width of the temperature rising space S becomes wider.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of the hermetically sealed in / out structure. In FIG. 12, the hermetically sealed inlet / outlet structure 8 is shown in a state in which the hermetically sealed inlet / outlet structure 8 is provided on the inlet side of the apparatus body 10a, but the same hermetically sealed inlet / outlet structure 8 is also disposed on the outlet side.

The hermetically sealed in / out structure 8 is provided in the rotary feeder 81 provided so as to be rotatable about the vertical shaft 82, the drive motor 83 for rotating the vertical shaft 82 about its axis, and the front take-over portion 104. Further, a seal member 8 surrounding the rotary feeder 81 in a sealed state.
4 is formed.

The rotary feeder 81 is formed of a metal disc, and has a plurality of packaged food accommodation grooves 81a which are recessed from the peripheral surface toward the center and have an equal pitch in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, four packaged food storage grooves 81a are provided. The vertical shaft 82 is provided at a boundary portion between the upstream end of the apparatus main body 10a and the downstream end of the conveyor belt 85 in the previous process, whereby the rotary feeder 81 is provided.
Is positioned such that the downstream side is located above the supply portion 102 of the lower belt 72 and the upstream side is located above the conveyor belt 85 with respect to the vertical axis 82.

In the present embodiment, the drive motor 83 is a step motor whose rotation speed can be easily controlled, and is intermittently driven by 90 ° in synchronization with the moving speed of each conveyor belt 7, 85. The drive rotation of the drive motor 83 is performed by the rotary feeder 8 via the vertical shaft 82.
1 is transmitted.

The seal member 84 has a feeder mounting chamber 84a which is recessed at the upstream end of the casing 101 so as to cover approximately two-thirds of the rotary feeder 81. The rotary feeder 81 has the feeder mounting chamber 84a. The upper and lower surfaces and the outer peripheral surface of the rotary feeder 81 are slidably contacted with the ceiling surface, the bottom surface and the inner peripheral surface of the feeder mounting chamber 84a in the state where the rotary feeder 81 is installed in the casing 101 so that the confidentiality inside the casing 101 is secured. The feeder 81 can rotate. However, the feeder mounting chamber 84a
Does not have a bottom portion in the lower part of the packaged food storage groove 81a in a state where the peripheral surface opening is oriented in the moving direction of the lower belt 72,
Therefore, the sealed packaged food P that has reached this portion by the rotation of the rotary feeder 81 is transferred onto the lower belt 72 at the bottom.

Further, the seal member 84 has a packaged food discharge port 84 communicating with the feeder mounting chamber 84a on the downstream side thereof.
b. The packaged food discharge port 84b is provided corresponding to the packaged food storage groove 81a, and the lower part and the downstream side are open.

According to the structure of the hermetically sealed loading / unloading structure 8, the hermetically packed packaged food P transferred by the conveyor belt 85 and reaching the downstream end thereof is inserted into the packaged food storage groove 81a of the rotary feeder 81 which is temporarily stopped by intermittent rotation. It is inserted. Then, by the 90 ° rotation of the hermetically sealed loading / unloading structure 8, it is introduced into the feeder mounting chamber 84a of the seal member 84, and by the subsequent 90 ° rotation, it is carried to a position facing the packaged food discharge port 84b, and is transferred onto the lower belt 72 here. , Will be transferred toward the counter electrode 6.

When the sealed packaged food P is transferred into the casing 101 by the sealed in / out structure 8, the rotary feeder 81 has the casing 101 side on the ceiling surface, the bottom surface and the inner peripheral surface of the feeder mounting chamber 84a of the seal member 84. Because of the sliding contact state, the casing 101 of the sealed packaged food P by the rotation of the rotary feeder 81
Even when supplied to the inside, the high-pressure air inside the casing 101 does not leak to the outside, and the high-pressure state inside the casing 101 is reliably ensured.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of the high frequency generating means applied to the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, two high-frequency generators 3 of the first embodiment are arranged in parallel, one is used for the counter electrode 6 on the upstream side, and the other one is the counter electrode on the downstream side. The first embodiment except that the control circuit 31a is used for driving the drive motor 73 for the conveyor belt 7, the lifting motor 75, and the drive motor 83 for the rotary feeder 81. Similar to that of.

On the operation section 32, a start button 32a and a stop button 32 for orbiting / stopping the high frequency generating means 3 are provided.
b, a raising button 32c for driving the lifting motor 75 so that the upper electrode 61 rises, a lowering button 32d for driving the lifting motor 75 so as to lower the upper electrode 61, and a rotation speed of the drive motor 73 for the conveyor belt 7 are set. Speed dial 32e, the drive motor 83 of the hermetically-sealed structure 8
An operation button 320 including a drive stop button 32f for driving and stopping the food is provided, and a data input key 321 for inputting the type and weight of the sealed packaged food P is provided.

The start button 32a and the stop button 3 described above.
The operation signal from 2b is output to a required circuit section as a control signal via the control circuit 31a. Then, when the start button 32a is operated, the operation of the high frequency generator 33 is started, and the drive motor 73 is also started,
When the stop button 32b is operated, the high frequency generator 3
3 is stopped, and the rotational drive of the drive motor 73 is also stopped.

The ascending button 32c and the descending button 3
The operation signal from 2d is transmitted to the lift motor 75 as a control signal via the control circuit 31a, and the lift motor 75 is rotationally driven to adjust the height of the upper electrode 61.

A signal corresponding to the operation amount from the speed dial 32e is transmitted to the drive motor 73 as a control signal corresponding to the operation amount through the control circuit 31a, so that the drive motor 73 is rotated at a rotation speed corresponding to the operation amount. Rotate with.

By operating the drive stop button 32f to the drive side, the drive motor 8 of the hermetically-sealed structure 8 can be obtained.
3 is driven and operated to the same stop side to stop the driving of the drive motor 83. In the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the drive motor 83 of the hermetically sealed in / out structure 8 is
The rotation speed of the drive motor 73 of the conveyor belt 7 is synchronized with this, so that the sealed packaged foods P discharged from the rotary feeder 81 are moved downwardly from each other by the lower belt 7.
It is designed to prevent a collision on the second car and an excessive gap.

The operation of the high frequency heat sterilizer 10 of the fourth embodiment will be described below. First, the first control valve 43 (FIG. 11) is opened prior to the sterilization process, and the casing 1
Compressed air is introduced into the casing 01, whereby the inside of the casing 101 is brought into a predetermined high pressure state (2 to 5 atmospheres). Thereafter, this high pressure state is constantly detected by a pressure sensor (not shown), and the opening / closing operation of the first control valve 43 is automatically performed by feedback control so that the inside of the casing 101 is always at a preset pressure. .

Then, the up / down width (gap distance d) between the upper belt 71 and the lower belt 72 through which the sealed packaged food P to be sterilized passes by operating the up button 32c and the down button 32d of the operation section 32 shown in FIG. The transfer speed of the sealed packaged food P is set by operating the speed dial 32e. Further data input key 32
1 is operated, the type of sealed packaged food P, the weight per piece,
Further, if necessary, operation data such as the number of belts arranged per row and the row spacing are input.

When the activation button 32a of the operating section 32 is subsequently operated, the high frequency generating section 33 is driven and the counter electrode 6 is driven.
In the meantime, the supply of the predetermined power or the predetermined power is started, and the heating space S
And the upper belt 71 and the lower belt 72 are rotated at the same speed by the rotational drive of the drive motor 73.

In this state, when the drive stop button 32f is operated to the start side, the rotary feeder 81 is intermittently rotated at a rotation speed synchronized with the revolution speed of the conveyor belt 7 by the start of the drive motor 83, and the conveyor belt 8 of the previous step is operated.
5 (Fig. 12), the hermetically sealed packaged food P transferred by
Is inserted into the packaged food storage groove 81a. Then, when the sealed packaged food P reaches the packaged food discharge port 84b by the rotation of the rotary feeder 81, the lower belt 7
2 and is conveyed to the downstream side by the movement of the lower belt 72.

As the sealed packaged food P is moved to the downstream side, as shown in FIG. 12, it is sequentially pushed by the inclined portion 44 of the upper belt 71 moving at the same speed as the lower belt 72, and is thus raised. Enters the temperature rising space S formed on the downstream side of the front pressing roller 71c in a uniform pressure equalizing state. Then, the sealed packaged food P is moved to the downstream side while being sandwiched between the upper belt 71 and the lower belt 72, and is exposed to a high-frequency electric field between the counter electrodes 6 formed of the upper electrode 61 and the lower electrode 62 to be predetermined. The next step (the sterilization step of performing the sterilization treatment by maintaining the elevated temperature for a predetermined time) from the downstream end of the conveyor belt 7 through the closed inlet / outlet structure 8 on the discharge side
Is discharged.

The high frequency heat sterilizers 1 and 1a of the present invention are
As described above in detail, since the sealed packaged food P is held by the high frequency counter electrode in the high pressure atmosphere and the heat sterilization treatment is performed by applying the high frequency, the sealed packaged food P is quickly heated to 100 ° C. or higher. The sealed packaged food P can be heated up to 100 ° C. and the boiling of the water contained in the sealed packaged food P can be suppressed even if the sealed packaged food P is heated to 100 ° C. or higher. The bag breakage of the packaging container is surely prevented, and the effect of improving the processing efficiency is great.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a fifth embodiment of the high-frequency heat sterilizer according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the high-frequency heat sterilizer 130 is formed by a high-pressure cylinder body 131 made of a cylindrical high-pressure container.
The inside of the high-pressure cylinder 131 is partitioned by a partition wall, and the high-frequency heating unit 13 that heats the sealed packaged food P to 100 ° C. or more by high-frequency heating from the upstream side (the left side in FIG. 14).
2. A temperature maintaining unit 133 that maintains the elevated temperature of the sealed packaged food P and subject it to substantial sterilization, a cooling unit 134 that cools the sealed packaged food P after sterilization, and a package of the sealed packaged food P. A drying unit 135 for drying the container is sequentially formed. Cooling water is stored in the cooling section 134, and the sealed packaged food P is immersed in the cooling water to be cooled.

A rotary feeder 136 for introducing the sealed packaged food P into the inside while maintaining the high-pressure state in the high-pressure cylinder 131 is provided at the upstream end of the high-pressure cylinder 131. Further, a similar rotary feeder 137 is provided at the downstream end of the high pressure cylinder 131 so that the sealed packaged food P can be led out of the system while maintaining the high pressure state in the high pressure cylinder 131. These rotary feeders 136,1
37 has the same structure as the rotary feeder 81 of the fourth embodiment.

A compression pipe K1 for introducing the compressed air from the compressor K into the high pressure cylinder 131 is provided at an appropriate position of the high pressure cylinder 131, and an opening / closing valve K2 attached to the compression pipe K1 is opened. By driving the compressor K in this state, the inside of the high-pressure cylinder 131 can be brought into a high-pressure state.

In the high frequency heating section 132 and the temperature maintaining section 133, there is provided a lower belt 720 which is stretched over a plurality of rollers below them and which is made of a mesh material and circulated by a driving means (not shown). In addition, the high-frequency heating unit 132 is provided with an upper belt 710 facing the conveying surface of the lower belt 720 and rotating at the same speed in synchronization with the lower belt 720. A heating space for high-frequency heating the sealed packaged food P is formed in a portion sandwiched between the upper belt 710 and the lower belt 720.

The upper electrode 610 is provided on the back side of the forward belt of the upper belt 710 in a sliding contact state, and the lower electrode 620 is provided on the back side of the forward belt of the lower belt 720 in a sliding contact state. On the other hand, a high frequency generator 3 is provided near the high frequency heat sterilizer 130, and high frequency power is supplied from the high frequency generator 3 to the upper electrode 610 and the lower electrode 620. In addition, the internal structure of the high-frequency heating unit 132 is the same as that of the fourth embodiment.

Therefore, from the outside, the rotary feeder 13
The sealed packaged food P introduced into the high-frequency heating unit 132 via 6 passes through the heating space between the upper electrode 610 and the lower electrode 620 while being sandwiched between the upper belt 710 and the lower belt 720, During this passage, it receives high frequency waves from the upper electrode 610 and the lower electrode 620 and is heated.

A temperature maintaining means 138 is provided in the temperature maintaining section 133. This temperature maintaining means 138
Is composed of an upper hood 139 and a lower hood 140 provided by sandwiching the forward belt of the lower belt 720, and hot air supply means 141 for supplying hot air to the lower hood 140. The hot air supply unit 141 has a blower and an electric heater, and the air in the temperature maintaining unit 133 is introduced into the lower hood 140 by the drive of the blower, heated by the electric heater, and then heated from the mesh material. Passing through the lower belt 720, the upper hood 139
And is released again into the temperature maintaining unit 133. As a result, the air in the temperature maintaining unit 133 is circulated by the temperature maintaining unit 138.

Therefore, the sealed packaged food P heated to 100 ° C. or higher and led out from the high-frequency heating section 132 passes through between the upper hood 139 and the lower hood 140 in the temperature maintaining section 133, and when it is passed through the lower hood. A temperature drop is suppressed by the hot air from 140 to maintain the temperature, and the heating temperature in the high-frequency heating unit 132 is maintained while passing through the temperature maintaining unit 133. The sealed packaged food P is substantially sterilized in this temperature maintaining state.

A water tank 142 for storing cooling water is formed below the cooling unit 134. In the water tank 142, the upstream end faces the downstream end of the lower belt 720,
In addition, the guide belt 14 whose downstream end is submerged in the water tank 142
3 and a submerged belt 144 which is connected to the guide belt 143 and extends in the conveying direction of the sealed packaged food P in the submerged state.
And a holding belt 145 which is arranged so as to form a holding surface facing the conveying surfaces of the guide belt 143 and the submerged belt 144. These belts 143, 144 and 145 are synchronized so as to rotate at the same speed.

Since a passage space through which the sealed packaged food P can pass is formed between the conveying surfaces of the guide belt 143 and the submerged belt 144 and the holding surface of the holding belt 145, a lower portion of the temperature maintaining section 133 is formed. The sealed packaged food P led out from the downstream end of the belt 720 is successively submerged while being guided by the guide belt 143 while being held by the holding belt 145, and further taken over by the submerged belt 144 in water to move in water. Be cooled while doing.

The drying section 135 has a water draining belt 146 having a mesh structure and a holding belt 147 having a mesh structure provided on the water draining belt 146 inside thereof. A passage space that allows the sealed packaged food P to pass through is formed between the pressing surface of the pressing belt 147 and the transport surface of the draining belt 146, and the sealed packaged food P led out from the cooling unit 134 is the draining belt 146. Presser belt 14
It is configured to be conveyed toward the rotary feeder 137 while being sandwiched between the sheet and the sheet.

An air blower 148 is provided above the pressing belt 147, and the air blown by the air blower 148 accelerates the drying of the sealed packaged food P being conveyed by the drain belt 146. . Then, the dried sealed packaged food P is led out through the rotary feeder 137.

High Frequency Heat Sterilizer 130 of the Fifth Embodiment
According to the above, the sealed packaged food P is sequentially fed into the temperature maintaining unit 133 via the rotary feeder 136 on the upstream side, so that the high-frequency heating unit 132 first holds the sealed packaged food P between the upper and lower belts 710, 7. Upper and lower electrodes 61
It is heated to a temperature of 100 ° C. or higher by receiving a high frequency from 0,620, and then is transferred to the lower belt 720 in the temperature maintaining unit 133 to obtain heat from the temperature maintaining means 138 to maintain the temperature of 100 ° C. or higher for a predetermined time. By this, a substantial sterilization process is performed, and then the cooling unit 134 is submerged and cooled while being transported by the belts 143, 144 and 145, and finally, is transported by the draining belt 146 in the drying unit 135 while being blown.
The air is blown from the rotary feeder 137 on the downstream side to be dried out.

As described above, according to the high frequency heat sterilization apparatus 130 of the fifth embodiment, the sealed packaged food P is subjected to high frequency heat treatment, night sterilization treatment, cooling treatment and drying treatment continuously to maintain the temperature. It is suitable for rapid sterilization of a large amount of hermetically sealed food P and is effective in reducing operating costs.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments described in detail, but also includes the following embodiments.

(1) In the above embodiment, the container body 21 is used as a high frequency lower electrode and the lid 22 is used as a high frequency upper electrode. However, in the present invention, the container body 21 and the lid 22 are used. It is not limited to be used also as an electrode, and an electrode may be separately provided in the container body 21 and the lid 22. By doing so, for example, the container body 21 and the lid 22 can be made of a non-conductive material such as synthetic resin.

(2) In the above embodiment, the seal member 24 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene, but other than this, a synthetic resin which is a tough material having excellent heat resistance, for example, Silicon rubber or the like can also be used suitably.

(3) In the above embodiment, the auxiliary heating of the packaged food P is mainly performed after the high frequency heating, but in the present invention, the auxiliary heating is performed after the high frequency heating. It is not limited to being
It may be performed before the high frequency heating, or may be performed simultaneously with the high frequency heating.

(4) In the above embodiment, the food sterilization containers 2, 115, 123 are designed so that the inside thereof is supplementally heated by the steam from the steam generating source. Auxiliary heating may be performed from the outside of the sterilization container. The heating means is not limited to steam, and various heating means such as heating with hot water, electrothermal heating, heating using a Peltier element, and heating using chemical reaction heat can be used.

(5) In the above embodiment, the water from the cooling water supply source 52 is used for cooling the food sterilization containers 2, 115, 123 and is introduced into the food sterilization container. However, instead of directly cooling the inside of the food sterilization container, cooling may be performed from the outside of the food sterilization container. As a cooling medium, instead of water, use a refrigerant such as CFC or ammonia, which has a higher endothermic efficiency than water, and recools them by adiabatic expansion of the refrigerant after absorbing heat, and circulates it as a cold heat source. It may be used. Furthermore, a cooling method using a Peltier element can also be adopted.

(6) In the above embodiment, the food sterilization container 2 is of the stationary type.
A vibration mechanism for separately vibrating the food sterilization container 2 may be additionally provided, and the food sterilization container 2 may be vibrated by the vibration mechanism while the sealed packaged food P is hermetically loaded in the sterilization chamber 23. By doing so, the food in the sealed packaged food P is mixed, and the sealed packaged food P is heated more uniformly.

(7) In the above embodiment, the posture of the food sterilization container 2 is changed by driving the drive motor 14, but instead of using the drive motor 14, the food sterilization is performed by an actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder. The attitude changing operation of the container 2 may be performed.

(8) In the above embodiment, both belts 71 and 72 are operated by one drive motor 73, but both belts 71 and 72 are operated by one drive motor 73. The present invention is not limited to this, and two drive motors may be provided for the respective belts 71 and 72.

(9) In the above-described embodiment, the vertical width of the temperature raising space S is changed by the raising / lowering operation of the upper electrode 61. Instead of this, the lower electrode 62 is raised / lowered. Alternatively, the operation may be performed by raising and lowering both the upper electrode 61 and the lower electrode 62.

(10) In the above embodiment, the casing 1 is provided in order to make the inside of the casing 101 a confidential structure.
The sealed inlet / outlet structure 8 is provided at the upstream end and the downstream end of 01, and this sealed inlet / outlet structure 8 is formed with a rotary feeder 81 that rotates around a vertical axis 82. Instead of using the rotary feeder 81, A heavy door system may be adopted, and the airtightness inside the casing 101 may be maintained by preventing the outer door and the inner door from opening at the same time.

(11) In the above embodiment, the high pressure cylinder 131 is provided with the drying section 135, but the rotary feeder 137 is provided at the downstream end of the cooling section 134 without providing the drying section 135. May be. In this case, the sealed packaged food P is cooled after being discharged from the high-pressure cylinder 131.

[0157]

According to the invention described in claim 1, the counter electrode to which high-frequency power is supplied while holding the packaged food, the hermetically sealed container for sealing at least the holding space of the counter electrode, and the hermetically sealed container Since the atmospheric pressure changing means for changing the atmospheric pressure in the container is provided, it is possible to make the pressure inside the sealed container higher than the atmospheric pressure by the atmospheric pressure changing means. It can be heated up to and is effective in efficiently performing sterilization.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the high-frequency heating space in a hermetically sealed state can be easily formed by interposing the side wall member between both electrodes.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the sterilization treatment in the sealed container is completed, the packaged food in the sealed container is cooled by the cooling means, so that the packaged food is in a high pressure state due to high temperature. Because the pressure inside the
Even if the sealed container is opened, the container of the packaged food is not damaged, and it is effective for speeding up the work of taking out the packaged food from the sealed container after the sterilization treatment is completed. Further, by rapidly cooling the packaged food after the sterilization is completed, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the taste and flavor of the food.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by heating the sealed container in advance by the auxiliary heating means, the portion of the packed food which is in contact with the counter electrode of the packed food in a state in which the sealed container is loaded. Is heated by heat transfer from the heated counter electrode, the inside of the packaged food is heated by high-frequency heating, but the part in contact with the counter electrode is cooled by the low temperature electrode, The conventional problem that the temperature distribution of the food becomes non-uniform and the sterilization treatment cannot be surely performed in a short time is solved, and it is effective for rapid sterilization treatment.

Further, by raising the temperature to the sterilization temperature by high frequency heating and then holding the elevated temperature for a predetermined time by using an auxiliary heating means, the sterilization temperature can be maintained easily and It becomes possible to do it stably,
It is effective for efficient heat sterilization. Further, the auxiliary heating means contributes to uniform heating when the temperature of the packaged food is increased by using it together with the temperature increase by the high frequency heating.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the packaged food is introduced into the casing through the introduction section in sequence and is transferred between the counter electrodes by the transfer means, so that the packaged food is dielectrically discharged between the counter electrodes. Since it is heated and then discharged to the outside of the system through the discharge part, it becomes possible to continuously and rapidly sterilize the packaged food. It is convenient.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a first embodiment of a high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, showing a state in which a lid of a container body is opened.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the container body of the high-frequency heat sterilizer shown in FIG. 1 is closed by a lid.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a high-frequency generator according to the present invention.

5A and 5B are explanatory views showing an example of sterilization treatment performed using the high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus according to the first embodiment, in which (A) is a process chart and (B) is a hermetically sealed packaged food loaded in a food sterilization container. It is a graph which shows the time-dependent change of the temperature of the sealed packaging food in each process performed in the state.

FIG. 6 is a first example of the high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus according to the first embodiment.
7 is a schematic sectional view showing a modified form.

FIG. 7 is a second example of the high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus according to the first embodiment.
7 is a schematic sectional view showing a modified form.

FIG. 8 is a third example of the high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus according to the first embodiment.
It is the cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows a deformation | transformation form, (a) shows the state which the high frequency heat sterilization apparatus was set to the horizontal posture, (b) shows the state which the high frequency heat sterilization apparatus was set to the vertical posture, respectively. ) Shows the state of the sealed packaged food when the high-frequency heat sterilizer is in the vertical position.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a second embodiment of the high-frequency heat sterilizer according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a third embodiment of the high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a fourth embodiment of the high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of a hermetically sealed in / out structure.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a high frequency generating means applied to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing a fifth embodiment of the high-frequency heat sterilization apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

P sealed packaged food 1,1a, 1b, 1c, 10,110,120,130
High-frequency heat sterilizer 10a Device body 11 Rotating structure 12 Horizontal shaft 13 Strut 14 Drive motor 15 Drive belt 101 Casing 102 Supply part 103 Discharge port 104 Front transfer part 105 Rear transfer part 114 Rotating substrate 115,123 High frequency heat sterilization container (sealed) Container 124 Carriage 2 Food sterilization container (sealed container) 21 Container body 22 Lid 22a Projected edge 23 Sterilization chamber 24 Sealing member 25 Pressing means 26 Hydraulic cylinder 27 Piston rod 28 Connecting member 28a Connecting plate 28b Bracket 3 High frequency generating means 31 Control circuit 32 Operation part 33 High frequency generating part 34 Power supply circuit 35 High frequency generating circuit 36 Matching circuit 4 Boosting means 41 Pressurizing pump 42 High pressure piping 43 First control valve 44 High pressure tank 5 Temperature adjusting means 51 Steam generating source 51a Steam supply Main supply pipe 51b Steam supply branch pipe 52 Cooling water supply source 52a Cooling water supply main pipe 52b Cooling water supply branch pipe 53 Container body temperature control pipe 54 Lid body temperature control pipe 55 Third control valve 56 Fourth control valve 6 Counter electrode 61 Upper electrode 62 Lower Electrode 7 Conveyor Belt 71 Upper Belt 72 Lower Belt 73 Drive Motor 74 Electrode Elevating Mechanism 75 Elevating Motor 76 Direction Changer 77 Rack Shaft 8 Sealing In / Out Structure 81 Rotary Feeder 81a Packaged Food Storage Groove 82 Vertical Shaft 83 Drive Motor 84 Sealing Member 84a Feeder installation room 84b Packaged food discharge port 85 Conveyor belt

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A high-frequency heat sterilizer for sterilizing packaged food by heating it to 100 ° C. or higher by dielectric heating by supplying high-frequency power, and a counter electrode to which high-frequency power is supplied while holding the packaged food. A high-frequency heating and sterilizing apparatus comprising: a sealed container for keeping at least the holding space of the counter electrode airtight, and an atmospheric pressure changing means for pressurizing the sealed container. 2. The high-frequency heat sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the hermetically sealed container includes the counter electrode and an insulating side wall member sandwiched between the counter electrodes. apparatus. 3. The high-frequency heat sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising cooling means for cooling the packaged food in the sealed container. 4. The high-frequency heat sterilizer according to claim 1, further comprising auxiliary heating means for auxiliary heating the packaged food in the packaging container. . 5. The high-frequency heat sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the hermetically sealed container has a casing, an introducing section for introducing packaged food into the casing, and an extracting section for extracting the packaging container from the casing. High-frequency heating, characterized in that it comprises a transfer means for transferring the packaged food from the introduction part to the extraction part, and the counter electrode is arranged so as to hold the packaged food transferred by the transfer part. Sterilizer.