JPH10313837A - Pressure sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pressure sterilizer for sterilizing objects such as packaged foods, designed to improve operating efficiency through shortening the time period of discharging the cooling water used in cooling process. SOLUTION: This pressure sterilize has such scheme that steam and pressurized air are fed into a chamber 5 while detecting the temperature inside the chamber 5 by the aid of a thermosensor 32 to conduct a pressure sterilization of an object 3 followed by feeding cooling water and pressurized air into the chamber 5 to cool the object 3 under pressure, and the cooling water is then discharged by making use of the inner pressure of the chamber 5 after cooling.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressure sterilizer for heating and sterilizing a retort food containing cooked food in a soft packaging container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A retort sterilizer for heat-sterilizing retort food in which cooked food is sealed in a soft packaging container such as plastic is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-161485. The retort food is carried into the tank, and steam or pressurized air is supplied into the processing tank using a pump or a compressor to sterilize the retort food so that the packaging container is not damaged.

[0003] On the other hand, even in relatively small stores such as retail stores, original foods are developed and prototypes are produced, but it is necessary to purchase a large sterilizing apparatus as described above. No, maintenance is difficult even if purchased.

In view of this, a method is conceivable in which the pressurized sterilization tank is made small and, for example, tap water is used as the cooling water after the sterilization. However, in the relatively large retort sterilizer, the retort food is sterilized after sterilization. After circulating hot water in the kettle with a pump or supplying cold water to cool the retort food, drain the cooling water in the kettle, and upon draining,
Since the inside of the kettle is cooled to normal pressure during cooling and then drained by natural drainage, it takes time for drainage, and when sterilization is continuously performed, the work efficiency is reduced.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the working efficiency by shortening the drainage time of the cooling water used in the cooling step.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a chamber for accommodating an object to be sterilized for sterilization, a lid for closing an opening of the chamber, and supplying steam to the chamber and / or supplying steam to the chamber. Generated steam supply means, water supply means for supplying water into the chamber, pressurizing means for supplying pressurized air into the chamber, drainage means for draining water in the chamber, and exhausting air and steam in the chamber Exhaust means;
Equipped with a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the chamber and control means that controls each means, and pressurizes the sterilized object by supplying steam and pressurized air into the chamber while detecting the temperature inside the chamber with the temperature sensor After sterilization, cooling water is supplied into the chamber and pressurized air is supplied to cool the object to be sterilized under pressure, and after cooling, the cooling water is drained using the internal pressure in the chamber. is there.

Further, according to the present invention, the chamber is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having an opening on the upper surface, a temperature sensor is mounted at a predetermined height position of the chamber, and cooling water is supplied into the chamber to be sterilized. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reverses to an increase during cooling of the object, the supply of pressurized air is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time after the detection of the reversal, and the cooling water is drained using the internal pressure in the chamber. It is.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. Reference numeral 1 denotes an outer case of an apparatus main body, which has an opening 2 provided on an upper surface thereof, and inside which an object 3 to be sterilized such as retort food is placed. A chamber 5 having a bottomed cylindrical shape and having a storage chamber 4 for storing and performing a sterilization process is stored.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a heater, such as a sheath heater, provided at the inner bottom of the storage chamber 4, which is covered with a heater cover 7 and has the upper surface of the heater cover covered with the above-mentioned sterilized objects 3. It is configured to be mounted.

Numeral 8 denotes a water supply pipe for cooling water supply connected to the upper part of the side wall of the chamber 5, and a check valve 9, a water supply solenoid valve 10.
And a water supply source such as a water supply through a water governor 11, which mainly constitutes a water supply means.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an air supply pipe for supplying pressurized air which is connected above and below the side wall of the chamber 5 by a branch pipe 13.
It is connected to a compressor 19 via a check valve 14, an air supply solenoid valve 15, an air governor 16, an air tank 17, and a check valve 18, and these constitute a pressurizing means.

In the embodiment, the air governor 16, the air tank 17, the compressor 19, and the like are housed in the unit case 20, but they are integrally housed in the outer case 1 of the appliance body. May be.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a drain pipe connected to the bottom of the chamber 5 and a drain solenoid valve 22 is connected on the way.
A manual drain valve 23 is connected in parallel to this drain solenoid valve, and these constitute drain means.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a lid for opening and closing the opening 2 and is formed in a substantially hemispherical spherical portion 25 at the center of the inner surface, and is connected to the tip of the water supply pipe 8 to constitute the water supply means. The fountain nozzle 26 is set so as to face substantially the center of the spherical portion 25.

The fountain nozzle 26 is formed with, for example, four fountain ports (not shown), from which fountains are sprayed toward the center of the spherical portion 25 in a shower shape and reflected on the spherical portion. ing.

Reference numeral 27 denotes an exhaust pipe connected to an appropriate position of the branch pipe 13. An exhaust solenoid valve 28 is connected in the middle of the pipe. To constitute the exhaust means.

The end of the exhaust pipe 27 is located in the water 30 stored at the bottom of the condenser 29. The exhaust pipe 27 is configured so that the atmosphere does not flow back into the chamber 5 from the exhaust pipe 27. A manual exhaust valve 31 is connected in parallel with the solenoid valve 28.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the storage chamber 4 mounted at a height of about 2/5 of the side wall of the chamber 5, and is constituted by a thermistor or the like.

Reference numeral 33 denotes a control unit mounted at an appropriate position in the outer case 1. The control unit 33 controls the heater 6, the water solenoid valve 10, the air supply solenoid valve 15, the drain solenoid valve 22, the exhaust solenoid valve 28, and the like. Is controlled in accordance with a predetermined sequence set in advance.

Reference numerals 34, 35, 36, and 37 denote pressure gauges respectively connected to the water supply pipe 8, the air supply pipe 12, and the branch pipe 13, and reference numerals 38 and 39 denote pressure safety valves connected to the branch pipe 13 and the air tank 1, respectively. .

The mounting position of the temperature sensor 32 is determined in consideration of the internal volume of the chamber 5, the amount of water supplied from the water supply means, and the like, in which cooling water is supplied from the water supply means and stored therein. When the water level rises to the mounting position of the temperature sensor 32 within the range where the pressure safety valve 38 does not operate due to the water pressure, it is set so that the water level can be detected by a change in the detected temperature due to the contact of the cooling water with the temperature sensor. I have.

The sequence of the sterilization process will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the lid 24 is opened, water for generating steam is supplied to the bottom in the chamber 5, and the objects 3 to be sterilized, such as packaged foods, are stored and placed on the heater cover 7, and the lid 24 is closed.

Next, when the sterilization operation is started by turning on an operation switch (not shown), the control unit 33 first supplies power to the heater 6 to heat water accumulated at the bottom of the chamber 5 to generate steam and exhaust gas. The electromagnetic valve 28 is opened, and the generated steam exhausts the air in the chamber 5 to the outside through the branch pipe 13 and the exhaust pipe 27.

When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 32 reaches, for example, 10 ° C. lower than the set temperature, the compressor 19 is operated to store the compressed air in the air tank 17, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 32 reaches the set temperature. Then, the operation of the compressor 19 is stopped, the power supply to the heater 6 is controlled to maintain the inside of the storage chamber 4 at the set temperature, and the sterilizing process of the objects 3 to be sterilized is performed in a saturated steam state.

On the other hand, when the sterilization processing time by the sterilization timer set by the control unit 33 in accordance with the amount of the material to be sterilized 3... Ends, the air supply solenoid valve 15 is opened and the inside of the chamber 5 is subjected to the sterilization processing. At the same pressure, the water supply solenoid valve 10 is opened, water is supplied from the fountain nozzle 26, the supplied water is applied to the spherical portion 25 of the lid 24 and diffused, and the water is irradiated onto the material 3 to be sterilized. Is efficiently pressurized and cooled.

Incidentally, when the sterilization processing time is completed, for example, 2
By operating the compressor 19 minutes before, the pressure sensor detects the pressure in the air tank 17 and controls the operation of the compressor.Without using a relatively expensive compressor, the noise caused by the compressor operation noise is reduced. I can do it.

When, for example, the temperature in the storage chamber 4 drops to a first preset temperature (for example, 60 ° C.), the operation of the compressor 19 is stopped. When the temperature drops to the set temperature of 2 (for example, 50 ° C.), the drainage electromagnetic valve 22 is opened to efficiently drain the water using the internal pressure while reducing the pressure in the storage chamber 4. For example, the completion of sterilization is notified by a buzzer, a lamp, or the like, and the exhaust electromagnetic valve 28 is opened to supply air into the chamber 5.

On the other hand, the water level in the storage chamber 4 rises and reaches the temperature sensor 32 before the temperature drops to the first set temperature during the cooling because of a large amount of the material 3 to be sterilized. When the detected temperature is reversed to rise, the operation of the compressor 19 is stopped, for example, one minute after the temperature is reversed and the temperature rises by 1 ° C., and at the same time, the electromagnetic valve 22 for drainage is opened, and the internal pressure in the storage chamber 4 is used. And drain efficiently.

In the above embodiment, the drainage process is set by a timer. However, a sensor for detecting the water level in the storage chamber 4 may be provided, and the sensor may detect the end of drainage.

In the above embodiment, the operation of the compressor 19 is stopped when the temperature in the chamber 5 drops to the set temperature during the cooling process or when the cooling process is completed. In this case, the drainage time can be further reduced, and the drainage to a higher place than the instrument body can be performed.

[0031]

According to the constitution of the present invention, the cooling water after the sterilization treatment is drained to the outside by utilizing the internal pressure in the chamber, whereby the drainage time can be reduced.

Further, the present invention detects a rise in the level of cooling water in the chamber by using a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the chamber, thereby eliminating the need for a pump or the like.
Cooling water can be supplied using tap water or the like, and the cost can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a process operation diagram showing the same operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Opening 3 Sterilized object 5 Chamber 24 Lid 32 Temperature sensor 33 Control unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Kawata 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture Inside Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koichi Nishikawa 3-201 Minamiyoshikata, Tottori City, Tottori Sanyo Electric Tottori Inside the corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A chamber for accommodating and sterilizing an object to be sterilized, a lid for closing an opening of the chamber, and a steam supply means for supplying steam to the chamber and / or generating steam in the chamber. Water supply means for supplying water into the chamber, pressurizing means for supplying pressurized air into the chamber, drainage means for draining water from the chamber, and exhaust means for exhausting air and steam in the chamber as well. A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the chamber, and control means for controlling each of the above-mentioned means. The temperature sensor detects the temperature in the chamber and supplies steam and pressurized air into the chamber to detect the temperature in the chamber. After autoclaving the sterilized material, cooling water is supplied into the chamber and pressurized air is supplied to cool the object to be sterilized under pressure, and after the cooling, the inside of the chamber is cooled. A pressure sterilizer that drains cooling water using internal pressure. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the chamber has a bottomed cylindrical shape having an opening on an upper surface, the temperature sensor is mounted at a predetermined height position of the chamber, and cooling water is supplied into the chamber to form the chamber. When cooling the sterilized product, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reverses to an increase, the supply of pressurized air is stopped after a lapse of a predetermined time after the detection of the reversal, and the cooling water is drained using the internal pressure in the chamber. The autoclave according to claim 1, comprising: