JPH099938A - Preservation of article by carbon dioxide and instrument for preservation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method capable of simplifying preservation of foods, etc., using carbon dioxide by family in one's home and instrument thereof. SOLUTION: This method for preserving foods is carried out as follows. The interior of a container in which an article is hermetically sealed is connected to a vacuum port connectedly installed in a jetting path of carbon dioxide and air in the container is sucked by vacuum pressure produced in the vacuum port by jet flow of carbon dioxide and is sent out by the jet flow and gas passage is changed over when the interior of the container becomes vacuum and carbon dioxide is densely filled into the container and the container is separated from the vacuum port. This instrument has a sucking and discharging device A and a container B. The sucking and discharging device A has a feeder 1 of carbon dioxide, a vacuum generator 2 and a changeover valve 3. The container is equipped with a gas passage 5 communicating with the inside and outside. A port 34 for respiration communicates with a port 32 for sending out at an original position of the changeover valve and a port 33 for feeding communicates with a port 35 for discharge and these ports for sending out and discharge are blocked at an operating position of the changeover valve and the port 33 for feeding communicates with the port 34 for respiration.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for storing articles and a storage device using carbon dioxide.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Food storage methods include freezing, drying, canning, and nitrogen gas filling. Further, carbon dioxide (hereinafter referred to as CO ₂ ) is a substance that is indispensable to the earth's ecosystem and human life, and exerts a mysterious action not only on photosynthesis but also on plants and animals.
Human beings also widely use CO ₂ as carbonated springs (carbon dioxide medical treatment), carbonated drinks, CFC / Halogen alternative gas, etc. It is well known that CO ₂ is used for rice storage, calcium storage, animal anesthesia, and fish activation, etc. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Food Research Institute has proposed a method for killing shells using CO _2. ing. In other words, these effects of CO ₂ have been proved.

[0003]

The use of CO ₂ generally requires a large-scale device, and the great effect of CO ₂ is also limited to the general public's ability to use it easily and easily at home. ing. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for easily storing foods using carbon dioxide and a device used therefor.

[0004]

According to the method of preserving food according to the present invention, the inside of a container in which an article is sealed is connected to a vacuum port provided in association with a carbon dioxide jetting path. Then, the air in the container is sucked by the vacuum pressure generated in the vacuum port by the jet flow of carbon dioxide and carried out to the jet flow. When the inside of the container becomes a vacuum, the gas passage is switched to fill the inside of the container with carbon dioxide, and then the container is separated from the vacuum port.

The storage device according to the present invention has a suction / discharge device and a container. This intake / exhaust device is similar to the intake / exhaust device shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 of Japanese Patent Application No. 6-312742 previously filed by the applicant of the present application and the description thereof, but the intake port is eliminated. The intake / exhaust device has a CO ₂ supply device, a vacuum generator, and a switching valve. The feeder is of a conventional type and has a mounting port for a small high-pressure gas container filled with CO ₂ , a capping device for a sealing plate of the mounted small high-pressure gas container, a decompression mechanism for the gas discharged after being opened, a decompression device. And a gas discharge port.

The vacuum generator is cylindrical and has an inlet at one end connected to the outlet of the feeder, an outlet at the other end, and an orifice in the middle, and a vacuum port facing the orifice. Is opened, and a check valve for preventing outflow is arranged in the vacuum port.

The switching valve has a delivery port, a delivery port, a breathing port, and a discharge port under the control of the valve body.
The outlet port is connected to the vacuum port, the inlet port is connected to the discharge port, and the breathing port is provided with a nozzle.

The container is provided with a gas passage communicating with the inside and outside,
The gas passage has a check valve that opens when the switching valve is fitted to the nozzle, and an edge portion that is in close contact with the outer peripheral edge of the nozzle.

Then, in the original position of the switching valve, the breathing port communicates with the delivery port, and the delivery port communicates with the discharge port. Further, in the operating position of the switching valve, the sending and discharging ports are shut off, and the sending port communicates with the breathing port.

[0010]

In the case of the preservation method, the inside of the container in which the articles are sealed is CO ₂
It is connected to the vacuum port provided in relation to the ejection path of the. The container should be one that can withstand vacuum pressure, the plastic bag is suitable for low vacuum pressure, and the one made of hard material is suitable for high vacuum pressure. The articles include vegetables, grains such as fish and shellfish, rice and wheat, flours, calcium, and the like, and the purpose includes mere insect preservation, sterilization, etc. This includes objects made of paper, such as books, and things made of cloth, such as clothing.

The air in the container is sucked by the vacuum pressure generated in the vacuum port by the jet flow of CO ₂ and carried out to the jet flow. When the inside of the container becomes vacuum, the gas passage is switched to C
After O ₂ is filled in the container, the container is separated from the vacuum port. This replaces air in the container with CO ₂ , so that insects and germs cannot survive and the product is stored for a long time without changing its quality.

Next, in the case of a storage device, on the intake / exhaust device side,
Install the small high-pressure gas container by screwing it into the supply port. Also, on the container side, an article to be stored is put in the container and sealed. Then, the nozzle of the suction / exhaust device is fitted into the gas passage of the container, the check valve is opened, and the outer peripheral edge of the nozzle and the edge portion of the gas passage are brought into close contact with each other.

When the gas release lever of the feeder is pushed while keeping the switching valve in the original position, CO ₂ flows from the small high-pressure gas container into the vacuum generator, the flow velocity is increased by the orifice and becomes a jet, and the switching is performed from the discharge port. It passes through the inlet port of the valve and flows out from the outlet port. Since a vacuum pressure is generated in the vacuum port of the vacuum generator by this jet, the air in the container is drawn through the nozzle to the vacuum port, where it is conveyed to the jet, and passes through the delivery port of the switching valve. Is discharged from the discharge port to the outside.

When the inside of the container becomes vacuum, the switching valve is switched to the operating position. Then, the delivery port and the discharge port are cut off, and CO ₂ flows from the delivery port of the switching valve to the breathing port and then flows into the container through the nozzle.

When CO ₂ is airtightly filled in the container, the lever for releasing gas of the intake / exhaust device is released, and the gas passage of the container is removed from the nozzle of the intake / exhaust device. CO ₂ does not leak to the outside due to the check valve in the gas passage, and contributes to the preservation of goods.

Whether the inside of the container is evacuated or filled with CO ₂ can be judged by the change in volume in a plastic bag or the like.
In a hard container, it may be judged by time, or a pressure gauge may be provided on the gas passage to visually recognize it.

[0017]

The drawing shows an embodiment of the device used for carrying out the method according to the invention. A is an intake / exhaust device, and B is a container. The intake / exhaust device A has a CO ₂ supplier 1, a vacuum generator 2, and a switching valve 3.

The feeder 1 is of a conventional type, and for example, see Fig. 1 of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-14750 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-3.
It has the configuration shown in FIG. 1 of No. 0653. And in each figure, the structure of the part coded as "6: supply port" and "35" is changed a little.

Therefore, the supply device 1 will be described only in its schematic configuration. Small high-pressure gas container 11 containing CO ₂
A mounting port 12, a capping device 14 for a sealing plate 13 of the mounted small high-pressure gas container 11, a decompression mechanism 15 for the high-pressure gas that has been opened and discharged, a lever 16 for releasing the decompressed gas,
It has a discharge port 17 for depressurized gas. Reference numeral 18 is a safety device, and by moving the button 18 'left and right, the lever 16
Allow or prevent the rocking of.

The vacuum generator 2 has a cylindrical shape. In the illustrated example, an elbow type is used, but a straight tube type may be used. The cylinder here may be any of a cylinder, an elliptic cylinder, and a rectangular cylinder. The vacuum generator 2 is connected to the discharge port 17 of the feeder 1 through the inlet port 21 at one end. There are various connecting means, and a normal one-touch type connecting means used for connecting a gas plug and a hose can also be adopted. The illustrated example is a threaded type and is similar to the model shown in FIG. 2 of Japanese Patent Application No. 6-312742 described above.

The conduit 2 is connected to the discharge port 22 at the other end of the vacuum generator 2.
3 are connected. Further, the vacuum generator 2 is provided with an orifice 24 in the middle, and a vacuum port 25 opens facing the orifice 24. Then, a check valve 26 for preventing outflow is arranged in the vacuum port 25.

The switching valve 3 has four ports controlled by the movement of the valve body 31. That is, the delivery port 32, the delivery port 33, the breathing port 34, and the discharge port 35. The delivery port 32 communicates with the vacuum port 25 of the vacuum generator 2 via a joint pipe 36. You can choose various ways of communication. The inlet port 33 communicates with the discharge port 22 of the vacuum generator 2 via a conduit 23,
The breathing port 34 includes a nozzle 37. 38 is a pin lever.

The container B is provided with a gas passage 5 that communicates with the inside and outside. This gas passage has a check valve 5 that opens when the nozzle 37 of the switching valve 3 is fitted, and a rim portion 52 that is in close contact with the outer peripheral edge of the nozzle 37. Have

FIG. 3 shows a rigid container, which includes a lid 61 and a main body 62.
And the both are airtightly integrated at the fitting portion 63. In this case, the gas passage 5 is provided in the lid 61.

In the original position of the switching valve 3 (FIG. 1), the breathing port 34 communicates with the delivery port 32 and the delivery port 33.
Communicate with the discharge port 35. Further, at the operating position of the switching valve 3 (FIG. 2), the sending and discharging ports 32 and 35 are blocked, and the sending port 33 communicates with the breathing port 34. Here, the original position and the operating position have a relative relationship, and it does not matter even if the original position is represented as the operating position and the operating position is represented as the original position.

The nozzle 37 of the suction / exhaust device A is fitted into the gas passage 5 of the container B in which the product P is sealed. The nozzle 37 is the check valve 5
1 is opened, and the lip 52 is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral edge of the nozzle 37.

The pin lever 38 is kept in the original position of the switching valve 3, sends a CO ₂ from feeder 1, CO ₂ is vacuum generator 2
Flow to the vacuum port 25 due to acceleration at the orifice 24.
A vacuum is generated on. Therefore, the air in the container B passes from the breathing port 34 of the switching valve 3 through the delivery port 32, pushes the check valve 26 open, and is sucked into the vacuum generator 2 to generate CO ₂
At the same time, the gas flows from the discharge port 22 through the conduit 23 to the inlet port 33 of the switching valve 3 and further out through the outlet port 35 to the outside. Therefore, the inside of the container B becomes a vacuum.

When the pin lever 38 is moved to the operating position, the sending port 32 and the discharging port 35 are shut off. Therefore, CO ₂ is supplied to the ports 33 and 3 for the input and the breath.
4 through the nozzle 37 and the gas passage 5 into the container B under pressure.

When the filling is completed, the container B is removed from the suction / exhaust device A. Since the check valve 51 shuts off the gas passage 5 due to the withdrawal of the nozzle 37, CO ₂ is sealed in the container B, the quality of the product is kept unchanged, and the product is prevented from being damaged by insects and the like.

(Example 1) Fresh food (meat, sausage, fish, shellfish, vegetables, fruits, paste, confectionery) was put in a prototype poly bag as shown in FIG. Air was sucked in, and then CO ₂ was enclosed. The plastic bag was heat-sealed with a 20 μ film having low permeability, a poly chuck was attached, and the gas passage with a check valve was heat-sealed. One in which CO ₂ was enclosed without evacuation and one in which CO ₂ was enclosed by suction until there was no space were tested. The capacity is halved, and the amount of CO ₂ gas is also halved.
Met. Although the result of storage (freshness) was a sensory test, it could be visually preserved for a long period of time.

(Experimental Example 2) In a closed container made of a hard material as shown in FIG. 3, commercially available rice was enclosed together with the bryozoa which occurred in the rice, and the CO ₂ pressure was raised to 3 kgf / cm 2. I experimented. When the pressure was reduced to about 30 minutes for the minimum time, the insects died. In the case of vegetables, the oilworm on the eggplant also died in 10 minutes. It was also very effective in killing the ticks in the books. Dry foods such as seaweed and confectionery were crisp even for one month. It is also possible to sterilize dried shiitake mushrooms and dried fish.

[0032]

According to the present invention, the air in the container is sucked and discharged, and then CO ₂ is filled up, so that the article can be effectively stored.

According to the device of the present invention as defined in claim 2, deaeration of the container and filling of CO ₂ into the container can be performed by a single suction / exhaust device, so that effective storage of the article by CO ₂ is simple. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cut side view showing a specific example of a storage device used when carrying out an article storage method according to the present invention in the original position of a switching valve.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the state where the switching valve is in the operating position in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another example of the container.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A suction / exhaust device B container 1 supply device 2 vacuum generator 3 switching valve 5 gas passage 11 small high-pressure gas container 12 mounting port 13 sealing plate 14 capping device 15 pressure reducing mechanism 16 lever 17 discharge port 21 inlet port 22 discharge port 23 conduit 24 Orifice 25 Vacuum port 26 Check valve 31 Valve body 32 Outlet port 33 Inlet port 34 Breathing port 35 Ejection port 37 Nozzle 51 Check valve 52 Edge portion 61 Lid 62 Main body 63 Fitting part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A container in which an article is sealed is connected to a vacuum port provided in association with a carbon dioxide jetting path, and air in the container is sucked by a vacuum pressure generated in the vacuum port by a jet of carbon dioxide. When the inside of the container becomes a vacuum, the gas passage is switched to close the carbon dioxide in the container, and then the container is separated from the vacuum port. Article preservation method. 2. An intake / exhaust device (A) and a container (B), wherein the intake / exhaust device (A) is a carbon dioxide supply device (1) and a vacuum generator.
(2) and switching valve (3), the feeder (1) is of a normal type and is equipped with a small-sized high-pressure gas container (11) mounting port (12), which is mounted small Seal plate for high pressure gas container (11)
An opening device (14) of (13), a decompression mechanism (15) for the gas that has been opened and discharged, a lever (16) for releasing the depressurized gas, and a gas release port (17), The vacuum generator (2) has a cylindrical shape, and the inlet (21) at one end is the feeder.
The orifice (2) is connected to the discharge port (17) of (1), has the discharge port (24) at the other end, and has the orifice (26) in the middle.
The vacuum port (27) is opened to face 6), a check valve (28) for preventing outflow is arranged in the vacuum port, and the switching valve (3) is under the control of the valve body (31). It has ports (32, 33, 34, 35) for delivery, delivery, respiration, and discharge, and the delivery port (32) is connected to the vacuum port (28), The inlet port (33) is connected to the discharge port (25), the breathing port (34) is equipped with a nozzle, and the container (B) is equipped with a gas passageway (5) communicating with the inside and outside. The gas passage (5) is provided with a check valve (51) which is opened when the nozzle (37) of the switching valve (3) is fitted, and an edge portion (5) which is in close contact with the outer peripheral edge of the nozzle (37).
2), in the original position of the switching valve (3), the breathing port (34) communicates with the delivery port (32), and the delivery port (33) is used for the discharge. In communication with the port (35), and in the operating position of the switching valve (3),
A device for storing articles by carbon dioxide, characterized in that the sending and discharging ports (32, 35) are shut off, and the sending port (33) communicates with the breathing port (34).