JPH10155696A - Manufacture of gelatinized sponge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for inexpensively manufacturing a large-sized gelatinized sponge formed to be suitable for use in taking a bath, structured homogeneously, and further formed to be capable of preventing the splash of water even when squeezed in a water containing state, have a high drying speed and not to need a long time for being dried deep inside after use. SOLUTION: Glucomannan mixed with foaming gel particles such as gelatine and agar are molded into such a shape as having holes in a unilateral direction and, then, the foaming gel particles are solved out. At the same time, the glucomannan is gelatinized. In addition, the gelatinized glucomannan is frozen and thawed. An intended gelatinized sponge is thereby provided. At the time of molding the glucomannan into such a shape having holes along a unilateral direction, a continuous extrusion molding mouthpiece is used, and the glucomannan is molded so that the diameter of each hole is equal to or larger than 5mm, or preferably equal to 10mm or larger. At the same time, an interval between the holes is taken at a value equal to or less than 40mm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing konjac sponge used as a large bath cleaning tool.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has long been known that when konjac is frozen, it changes into an elastic sponge-like substance. Such konjac sponge has a better touch when wetted than urethane foam or the like, and is therefore used for face washing and washing infants. However, when konjac is generally frozen, a skin layer 1 is formed as shown in FIG. 4, and the cell structure is not uniform. That is, the outer bubble diameter increases, and the inner bubble diameter decreases.
For this reason, when the konjac sponge was moistened and squeezed, there was a problem that water spattered from a hole opened in a part of the skin layer 1 or the sponge became hard.

As a method for solving such a problem, there has been proposed a method for producing a konjac sponge having a uniform cell diameter and no skin layer as shown in FIG. 5 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-2).
4637). However, in this method, since gel-forming gel particles such as gelatin and agar are used, it is necessary to dissolve and remove the gel particles.Therefore, when producing a large konjac sponge for use in bathing, etc. In addition, a large number of steps are required for elution of the gel particles. In addition, large konjac sponges require a long time to dry to the inside after use, and are susceptible to degradation by microorganisms. Furthermore, as the size increases, the cost of raw materials and the like increases, and the cost also increases.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, has a uniform structure, does not splash water even when squeezed when containing water, and has a high drying speed. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for inexpensively producing a large konjac sponge suitable for bathing, which does not require a long time to dry the inside.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of intensive studies to achieve the above object, the present inventor has found that glucomannan mixed with foam-forming gel particles is previously formed into a shape having a hole in one direction. To achieve the objectives of the
The present inventors have found that a large konjac sponge suitable for bathing can be produced at a low cost at a high drying rate, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, the method for producing konjac sponge of the present invention comprises a first step of forming glucomannan mixed with foam-forming gel particles into a shape having a hole in one direction, and a step of dissolving the foam-forming gel particles and forming a glucomannan. It comprises a second step of gelling mannan and a third step of freezing and thawing gelled glucomannan. By this method, a konjac sponge as shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained.

In the above-mentioned production method, gel particles which are insoluble in cold water and soluble in hot water, such as gelatin and agar, are used as the foam-forming gel particles.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to form a shape having a hole in one direction, for example, a die for continuous extrusion as shown in FIG. 2 may be used. Also, for the purpose of reducing costs and increasing the drying speed, in particular, the hole diameter is 5 mm or more (preferably 10 mm or more), and the hole interval (wall thickness).
Is preferably 40 mm or less.
That is, when the diameter of the hole is less than 5 mm, it becomes almost the same as the bubble diameter of the sponge, and there is no effect of reducing the cost and increasing the drying speed. On the other hand, if the distance between the holes (wall thickness) exceeds 40 mm, the elution efficiency of the foam-forming gel particles at the time of production is remarkably reduced, and the drying speed at the time of use is extremely low. Here, the shape and number of holes are not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, one or several large holes are formed. Various modes are possible, such as a small hole, several small holes radially formed around a large hole, or several elliptical holes radially formed.

[0009]

The konjac sponge produced by the present invention has a uniform cell diameter and no skin layer, so that water is not scattered when squeezed and squeezed, and several holes penetrate in one direction. , It has a high drying speed and does not require a long time to dry inside after use.

[0010]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following Examples and Comparative Examples.

(Example) Purified glucomannan 100
3440 parts by weight of water and 4360 parts by weight of foam-forming gel particles (gelatin cubes) were added to the parts by weight to swell glucomannan. This mixture was supplied to a continuous machine, and calcium hydroxide was added so as to be 5.5% by weight with respect to glucomannan. Then, a die for continuous extrusion shown in FIG. 2 (diameter of the die: φ100 mm, center portion) (Diameter of hole: φ20 mm, diameter of surrounding hole: φ15 mm), and was continuously extruded into hot water at 70 ° C. so as to have a shape shown in FIG. The extruded product was cut into 5 to 15 cm in hot water, and then heated to elute foam-forming gel particles and gel glucomannan. Then freeze and thaw this,
I got konjac sponge. Elution of foam-forming gel particles is 3
The process was completed in about 0 minutes and about half of the time when there was no hollow portion. This sponge was very elastic. In addition, when it was shaded after use, it dried in about one day.

(Comparative Example) A molded article having no hole was manufactured using a ferrule having the same diameter as that of the example but having no hollow portion. Thereafter, the same treatment as in the example was carried out to produce a konjac sponge. As compared with the examples, the elution time of the foam-forming gel particles during production was as long as about 60 minutes. Also, the elasticity of the sponge was low because a part of the foam-forming gel particles remained. And, when it was shaded after use, it took two days or more.

[0013]

As described above, the konjac sponge produced according to the present invention has a uniform cell diameter and no skin layer, so that water is not scattered when squeezed and squeezed, as well as in one direction. Since it has a structure in which several holes penetrate, it has a high drying speed, does not require a long time to dry to the inside after use, and has high elasticity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view (a) showing an example of a konjac sponge manufactured by the method according to claim 1, and a perspective view (b) of a vertical section.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a die for continuous extrusion for use in the method according to claim 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the shape and number of various holes of konjac sponge manufactured by the method according to claim 1;

FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view (a) and a longitudinal sectional perspective view (b) showing a konjac sponge having a conventional skin layer.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view (a) of the entire konjac sponge without a conventional skin layer and a perspective view (b) of a longitudinal section.
It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 skin layer 2 hole 3 sponge body

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A first step of molding glucomannan mixed with foam-forming gel particles into a shape having a hole in one direction, and a second step of eluting the foam-forming gel particles and gelling glucomannan. And a third step of freezing and thawing the gelled glucomannan. A method for producing konjac sponge. 2. The method for producing konjac sponge according to claim 1, wherein the hole is formed so that the diameter of the hole is 5 mm or more and the interval between the holes (wall thickness) is 40 mm or less. 3. The method for producing konjac sponge according to claim 1, wherein the konjac sponge is formed into a shape having a hole in one direction by using a die for extrusion.