JPH11171295A - Apparatus for manufacture of beverage filled in container and method for activating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for manufacturing beverage filled in a container with high deaeration efficiency and a method for activating the apparatus in antiseptically filling liquid. SOLUTION: Beverage to be processed is rapidly heated to a temperature in the vicinity of its boiling point, and it is reserved in a reservoir 34 which can reserve it in a short time with a head space held, and dissolved oxygen is removed for filling beverage in a container. The apparatus for manufacturing the beverage filled in a container and the method for activating it include a liquid passing step for supplying water from a feed means 30, a temperature raising step for raising temperatures of a first heat exchanger 32 and a second heat exchanger 38 to respective set temperatures while keeping a supplied quantity with a water level in the reservoir 34 between an upper limit level and a lower limit level, and a processed beverage switching step for discharging reserved liquid while increasing/decreasing the water level in the reservoir 34 until a concentration of the processed beverage in the reservoir 34 reaches a substantially stationary state while the beverage is being supplied by the feed means 30 and starting to supply to a filling means 44 after the stationary state is reached.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a container-packed beverage and a method for starting the same, and more particularly, to preventing deterioration of the beverage due to oxygen when the beverage is subjected to high-temperature, short-time heat sterilization and sterilizing the beverage. The present invention relates to a device for filling and sealing a container so that oxygen is not dissolved in a beverage, and a method of starting the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Beverages such as canned and bottled beverages need to be sterilized to avoid spoilage during storage.
As a heat sterilization method of a beverage, a retort sterilization method in which the beverage is filled in a can, a bottle, or the like, sealed, and then heated at a temperature of 100 ° C. or more (usually 120 to 140 ° C.), or a thin tube or plate heat exchange for the beverage After raising the temperature to 100 ° C. or higher (usually 120 ° C. to 140 ° C.) under pressure through a container or the like, lowering the temperature of the beverage, filling the can at a temperature of 85 ° C. to 95 ° C., sealing immediately, and then Inverted state, hot filling method of maintaining the high temperature state for a sufficient time to sterilize can lids and the like with the heat of hot beverage (the heating temperature of the beverage may be less than 100 ° C), 100 under pressure through a thin tube heat exchanger
After the temperature of the beverage is raised to a high temperature of not less than ° C., a sterile filling method or the like in which the temperature of the beverage is lowered and filled in a sterilized can or the like under a sterile atmosphere at a temperature lower than room temperature and sealed is usually used.

[0003] The retort sterilization method is sterilized in a canned state. Therefore, even if some microbial contamination occurs during filling, it is killed during retort sterilization, and thus there is an advantage that process control before and after filling is easy. However, canned,
It is extremely difficult to rapidly cool a hot beverage in a relatively large container called a bottle after sterilization, and the beverage is kept at a high temperature for a relatively long time (several tens of minutes), and the taste and aroma are deteriorated. There are disadvantages such as changes.

[0004] On the other hand, the beverage before filling is passed through a thin-tube heat exchanger or the like in advance to bring the beverage to a high temperature of at least 100 ° C for a short period of time at a high temperature. The hot filling method and the aseptic filling method using the sterilization method (for only 10 seconds) have an advantage that the beverage heating time is very short as compared with the retort sterilization method, so that a canned beverage with a good taste and aroma can be obtained ( In the hot filling method and the aseptic filling method, it goes without saying that the canned beverage using the aseptic filling method capable of lowering the temperature of the beverage to a low temperature after heat sterilization has better taste and aroma.)

[0005] However, the deterioration of the beverage largely depends not only on the heating time but also on the dissolved oxygen concentration (dissolved oxygen amount) in the beverage. For example, a packaged tea beverage changes color over time due to dissolved oxygen. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the dissolved oxygen amount to 2 ppm or less together with the heat sterilization time. Generally, when the temperature of the solution increases, the amount of dissolved oxygen decreases, so in the hot filling method, the beverage can be considerably degassed immediately before filling the container by staying in a high-temperature tank before filling the beverage, At the time of heat treatment by high-temperature short-time sterilization under pressure using a heat exchanger before that, since it is not degassed because it is under pressure, it is at a high temperature (temperature greatly exceeding 100 ° C). The problem is that the oxidative denaturation of the pigments, aroma components and the like of the beverage caused by the dissolved oxygen at the time of heating is caused.

[0006] Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-317586.
Although the raw water is deaerated as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. H10-270, oxygen is inevitably dissolved again when preparing a beverage. However, conventionally, no special degassing treatment has been performed after the preparation of the beverage. Even in fruit drinks, the inherent flavors and pigments are easily deteriorated by oxidation, and therefore, short-time heat sterilization under a low oxygen concentration has been desired.

In order to solve such a problem, the present applicant heats a beverage to a temperature near the boiling point of the beverage before sterilizing the beverage at a high temperature for a short time, and has a head space above the heated beverage. A method and apparatus for producing a container-packed beverage that is kept in a storage tank for a short time under normal pressure, deaerated from the beverage, and then subjected to high-temperature and short-time sterilization to prevent deterioration of the beverage due to oxidation during heat sterilization. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-1 which has already proposed
50896 and JP-A-9-272516).

[0008]

The beverage cans and the like manufactured using the above-described manufacturing method and apparatus proposed by the present applicant have a dissolved oxygen content of 2 ppm or less before high-temperature heat sterilization. Sometimes very little degradation due to oxidation,
Furthermore, since the beverage is filled and sealed in a can or the like while substantially excluding contact with oxygen, there is an advantage that the beverage is less deteriorated even during storage of the manufactured can or the like.

[0009] By the way, a line for producing canned beverages and the like does not always produce only the same canned beverages and the like on the production line. Means, beverage preparation tank, heat exchanger, filling device, etc.
(Cleaning In Place) After washing, tap water and / or
After washing with ion-exchanged water, extract the beverage to be newly filled with the extraction device, blend the beverage in the blending tank, heat sterilize with the heat exchanger, cool with the heat exchanger, and fill the container with the filling device. When filling, it is necessary to pass through them.

[0010] Even when a canned beverage is manufactured by the above-described manufacturing method, tap water or / and / or the like can be used after filling of another beverage is completed.
And, after washing the portion that the beverage passes when it passes with ion-exchanged water, when switching to the next beverage, in order to make the canned product that has been produced from the first canned product to the intended purpose, first, After thoroughly degassing the beverage that begins to pour,
It is necessary to perform high-temperature heat sterilization, and for this purpose, these devices operate normally before the beverage enters the heat exchanger, the pump means, the storage tank and the pipe means (for example, when the heat exchanger is set). A state in which the beverage can be heated or cooled to a temperature, a state in which the pump means can feed or pump a predetermined flow rate of the beverage, a state in which the storage tank can maintain a predetermined head space, and an inert gas for discharging the head space gas is supplied. ) Or a state in which the beverage can be passed normally.

In other words, when the beverage container packing / manufacturing apparatus including the beverage deaerator, the heat sterilizer, and the filling / sealing apparatus is started, the pump means, the heat exchanger, the storage tank, the pipe means, etc. Inside, tap water or ion-exchanged water must be present. However, the apparatus used in the above-mentioned method for producing packaged beverages is different from the conventionally used apparatus for producing canned beverages in that it has a storage tank having a considerably large capacity in the middle of the pipe means through which the beverage passes. , Heat exchangers, storage tanks and conduit means, etc., from tap water or ion exchanged water to a substantially complete switch to a new beverage to fill the container (i.e., ready to be filled into cans). There was a risk that the amount of beverage would be lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is intended for use in a case where a beverage to be filled into a container is changed in a container-filled beverage production apparatus having the above-mentioned beverage degassing, heat sterilization, filling and sealing device. For manufacturing a packaged beverage capable of reducing the loss of a new beverage when switching from tap water or ion-exchanged water to a new beverage in a pump means, a heat exchanger, a storage tank, a pipe means, etc. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an activation method.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an apparatus for producing a packaged beverage according to the present invention supplies a liquid selected from water and a beverage to be treated to a filling apparatus side under substantially normal pressure. Feeding means, a first heat exchanger for rapidly heating the liquid fed by the feeding means to a temperature near its boiling point, and storing the heated liquid for a short time while holding the headspace portion A storage tank capable of discharging, a degassing unit for exhausting gas from a head space portion of the storage tank, a pumping unit for pumping the liquid degassed by the degassing unit to the filling device side, and a pumping unit for pumping the liquid. The liquid under pressure
C. or higher, a second heat exchanger for high-temperature short-time sterilization treatment, a third heat exchanger for rapidly cooling the sterilized liquid to the filling temperature, and at least the inner surface side of the beverage to be treated at the filling temperature has been washed. Filling means composed of a filling device and a sealing device for filling a container and sealing while substantially eliminating contact with oxygen, provided between the liquid supply source and the filling device, and the inside thereof is A conduit means through which a liquid passes, and wherein in the apparatus for producing a container-filled beverage, the water and the beverage to be treated are switched between the feeding means and the supply source of the water and the beverage to be treated. A first switching means capable of supplying, between the first heat exchanger and the storage tank, a second switchable supply / non-supply of the supply liquid from the first heat exchanger to the storage tank; Comprising two switching means, the third heat exchanger and the filling means And a third switching means for switching supply / non-supply of the supply liquid from the third heat exchanger to the filling means, and a liquid level detector and a head space in the storage tank. An oxygen concentration meter for measuring the oxygen concentration of the part and a measuring device for detecting that the water has been switched to the beverage to be treated, and a dissolved oxygen concentration meter is provided in the pipe means between the storage tank and the filling device. It is characterized by having.

Further, the starting method according to the present invention is characterized in that: a feeding means for feeding a liquid selected from water and a beverage to be processed to a filling device side under substantially normal pressure; and the liquid fed by the feeding means. A first heat exchanger that rapidly heats the liquid to a temperature near its boiling point, a storage tank that can store the heated liquid for a short time while holding the headspace portion, and exhaust gas from the headspace portion of the storage tank. Deaeration means for performing, a pressure-feeding means for pressure-feeding the liquid degassed by the degassing means to the filling device side, and
° C or higher, a second heat exchanger for short-time sterilization, a third heat exchanger for rapidly cooling the sterilized liquid to a filling temperature, and a container in which at least the inner side of the filling temperature treated beverage has been washed. And a filling means comprising a filling device and a sealing device for sealing while substantially eliminating contact with oxygen, and a filling means provided between the liquid supply source and the filling device, the inside of which is filled with the liquid. Pipe means passing therethrough, and between the supply means and the supply source of the water and the beverage to be treated, a first switching means capable of switching and supplying the water and the beverage to be treated is provided, further comprising: A second switching means for switching between supply / non-supply of the liquid supplied from the first heat exchanger to the water storage tank between the one heat exchanger and the storage tank; And between the filling means and before the liquid supplied from the third heat exchanger. A third switching means capable of switching between supply and non-supply to the filling means is provided. In the storage tank, a liquid level detector and an oxygen concentration meter for measuring the oxygen concentration in the head space portion, and switching from water to the beverage to be processed. A method for activating a container-filled beverage manufacturing apparatus comprising a dissolved oxygen concentration meter in a pipe means between the storage tank and the filling device, the measuring device comprising: A water passing step of supplying the water by a supply means, and while raising and lowering the liquid level of the water in the storage tank between an upper limit level and a lower limit level, the temperature of the first heat exchanger and the temperature of the second heat exchanger are each adjusted. A temperature raising step of raising the temperature to a set temperature, and raising and lowering the liquid level of the storage tank until the concentration of the processed beverage in the storage tank reaches a substantially steady state while supplying the processed beverage by the feeding means. The stored liquid is discharged while allowing Characterized in that it comprises a treated beverage switching step to initiate supply to the stage, the.

Further, in the start-up method according to the present invention, in the heating step and the switching step from water to the beverage to be treated, oxygen in the pipe means is discharged through an inert gas into the pipe means after the storage tank. It is preferred to do so. In addition, as the water for washing, tap water can also be used, but depending on the type of beverage used for filling, trace metal ions in tap water may affect the preservability and flavor, so that It is preferable to use ion exchange water or the like, and it is more preferable to use degassed ion exchange water or the like.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An apparatus for producing a packaged beverage according to the present invention, as described above, rapidly heats a processed beverage to near its boiling point under substantially normal pressure by a preheating means. In this state, the solubility of the dissolved oxygen in the beverage to be treated sharply decreases, and appears as supersaturation or as bubbles in some cases. Then, when reaching the storage tank of the degassing means, the dissolved oxygen in the beverage is released to the head space, and the dissolved oxygen in the beverage is released from the storage tank by removing the gas accumulated in the head space. Is done.

The deoxidized beverage to be treated is fed in a pressurized state by a pressurizing means, and sterilized by a sterilizing means at a high temperature of 100 ° C. or more under pressure in a short time.
The storage time in the storage tank is short, that is, several seconds to several tens of seconds, and preferably about ten and several seconds. Therefore, the time during which the beverage to be treated is maintained at a high temperature by the preheating means, the degassing means, and the sterilizing means is short, and the density of the liquid to be treated during this time is minimized. In addition, in the sterilizing means for performing the sterilizing treatment under high temperature and pressure, the degassed beverage to be treated is a heating target, so that the heating efficiency is high.

A feature of the present invention resides in that the above-described apparatus for producing a packaged beverage is efficiently activated. In other words, in the container-filled beverage manufacturing apparatus, the CIP is used at the time of starting or replacing the filled beverage.
After the washing, it is necessary to further wash the inside of the apparatus through which the beverage passes using water such as ion-exchanged water. However, the manufacturing apparatus includes a storage tank having a relatively large capacity, and depending on the method of replacing the water in the storage tank with the beverage to be treated, a large amount of the beverage to be treated may be lost.

Therefore, the present inventors reduced the loss of the beverage to be treated and improved the efficiency of sterilization and degassing by adopting a specific starting method in the manufacturing apparatus. That is, a water passing step in which water flows through the pipe means, a temperature raising step in which the temperature of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are raised while the liquid level in the storage tank is greatly raised and lowered, and a water treatment step. By adopting the process of switching to the beverage, it is possible to bring the liquid in the storage tank closer to the temperature and concentration state of the beverage to be treated heated to the degassing temperature supplied from the feeding means in a short time. Further, it is possible to stabilize the temperature and the dissolved oxygen concentration in a short time and to replace water with the beverage to be treated while minimizing the loss of the beverage to be treated in the transient state.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an apparatus for producing a packaged beverage according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The packaged beverage manufacturing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a beverage preparation apparatus 12 and a deaeration / sterilization / filling / sealing apparatus 14 for a beverage. These devices are connected by conduit means indicated by solid lines. Tap water for washing, ion-exchanged water, and the beverage to be treated pass through the inside of the pipe constituting the pipe means and are sent to each device.

The beverage preparation device 12 includes a sealed degassing tank 16 storing ion-exchanged water and a sealed degassing tank 16.
A vacuum pump 18 that puts the air under reduced pressure,
A sanitary pump 20 for feeding the ion-exchanged water stored in the pump, and a degassed ion-exchanged water fed by the sanitary pump 20 are switched through a switching valve 21 to one degassed ion-exchanged water at 50 to 80 ° C. A heat exchanger 22 to be heated, a tea extractor 23 to which heated ion-exchanged water supplied from the heat exchanger 22 is supplied, and a thick tea extract extracted by the tea extractor 23 are stored. It includes a stock solution tank 26 and a preparation tank 24 for storing degassed ion-exchanged water to which the other degassed ion-exchanged water is supplied via the switching valve 21.

Then, the degassed ion-exchanged water and the concentrated tea leaf extract are sequentially supplied to the blending tank 24 to prepare a tea beverage (a beverage to be treated) having a desired concentration. On the other hand, the degassing / sterilizing / filling / sealing device 14 for container-filled beverages, which is a feature of the present invention, includes a feed pump 30 constituting a feeding means,
A plate-type first heat exchanger 32 constituting preheating means,
A storage tank 34 having a degassing means, a pump 36 forming a pumping means, a plate-type second heat exchanger 38 forming a high-temperature and short-time sterilizing means, and a plate-type third heat forming a cooling means. It includes an exchanger 40, a pressure control valve 42, and a filling / sealing device 44 including a filling device and a sealing device constituting a filling means.

The feed pump 30 feeds the prepared tea beverage stored in the preparation tank 24 to the first heat exchanger 32 under substantially normal pressure. The first heat exchanger 32 rapidly heats the tea beverage fed from the feed pump 30 to a temperature near its boiling point by heat exchange in a narrow path. Here, in the case of a tea beverage, for example, it is preferable to heat to about 95 ° C., and since the heating in the heat exchanger 32 is lower than the boiling point,
It is not necessary to perform pressurization, and the temperature may be raised at normal pressure. The preheated tea beverage is sent into the storage tank 34, and the supply port is preferably provided on the upper wall of the storage tank 34 or a side wall near the upper wall. The outlet of the storage tank 34 is
It is preferably provided on the bottom wall or on the side wall near the bottom wall.

The storage tank 34 is composed of a tank having a head space portion. The storage tank 34 holds the tea beverage preheated by the heat exchanger 32 under normal pressure for a short time. The gas accumulated in the head space of the storage tank 34 is removed to the outside of the storage tank 34 together with the inert gas supplied to the head space. In addition, the residence time of the tea beverage in the storage tank 34 is preferably several seconds to several tens of seconds, and if it is configured to store for several minutes, not only the required capacity of the storage tank 34 becomes large, but also the tea beverage The time during which the temperature is maintained at a high temperature is prolonged, which causes deterioration of the tea beverage. On the other hand, if the capacity of the storage tank 34 is too small, when the balance between the supply amount of the pressure pump 36 and the supply amount from the first heat exchanger 32 is lost, overflow occurs or the second heat exchanger 38 There is a possibility that troubles such as intrusion of air may occur.

The pressure pump 36 feeds the degassed tea beverage stored in the storage tank 34 to the second heat exchanger 38 under pressure. The exchanger 38 is configured to maintain the temperature required for sterilizing the tea beverage, for example, 140 ° C. for several seconds to several tens of seconds. The sterilized tea beverage having passed through the exchanger 38 is immediately cooled to, for example, 30 ° C. by the third heat exchanger 40. Therefore, tea beverages are exposed to high temperatures of a few hundred degrees at most for several tens of seconds, and are already sufficiently degassed (deoxygenated).
Only exposed to high temperatures for a short period of time,
The effect on the aroma component or the pigment component of the tea beverage is extremely small.

The tea beverage at the filling temperature passed through the heat exchanger 40 is supplied to a filling / sealing device 44 via a pressure control valve 42 for maintaining the pressure in the heat exchangers 38 and 40 at a high pressure. The filling and sealing device 44 fills the container with the tea beverage cooled to the filling temperature supplied via the pressure control valve 42, and thereafter seals the container under a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere. In the case of canning, after filling the tea beverage into the can, the can lid is tightened. Needless to say, at least the inner surfaces of the can body and the can lid are cleaned, sterilized, and cleaned before the tea beverage is filled. Here, in order to form an oxygen-free atmosphere when the can is sealed, it is preferable to use an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or carbon dioxide alone or as a mixture, and a mixed gas of these gases and steam is also used. Can be used.

Next, as a means for forming a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere, a method of replacing the air in the head space of the can with nitrogen gas by performing undercover gassing with nitrogen gas when the can lid is wound around the can. A cover (or tunnel) that covers above the beverage-filled can transport conveyor between the filling device and the can lid tightening device and covers the can passage so that its side wall hangs down at least below the can opening. Nitrogen gas is introduced into a portion surrounded by a cover (or a tunnel), and nitrogen gas is blown toward the opening of the can from above to replace air in the head space of the can with nitrogen gas. A method of performing gassing, a method of enclosing a can lid winding device with a cover in addition to these means, introducing nitrogen gas into the device, and performing the tightening in a nitrogen gas atmosphere, and a method of performing can lid winding and fastening The enclosed in a cover, through this there is a method of undercover gassing while the nitrogen gas atmosphere.

Even undercover gassing alone,
The oxygen content in the head space of the can can be reduced to 0.2 ml / can or less, and a cover is provided to cover the top and sides of the can transport conveyor up to the can lid winding device, and nitrogen gas is introduced into this. After introducing and blowing nitrogen gas from above toward the opening of the can, undercover gassing is performed when tightening the can lid.
By reducing the volume to 1 ml / can or less, and additionally enclosing the can lid wrapping device with a cover and providing a nitrogen gas atmosphere therein, the oxygen content in the head space cover of the can can be reduced to almost zero.

Further, the can lid tightening device is surrounded by a cover, and a portion to be tightened by introducing nitrogen gas into the device is set in a nitrogen gas atmosphere, and undercover gassing is performed. The oxygen content can be 0.1 ml / can or less. In either method, hot filling is only performed (oxygen amount of about 2.0 in head-space portion).
ml / can), the amount of oxygen in the head space can be significantly reduced. The method to be selected is determined in consideration of how easily the equipment of the factory that manufactures the canned food and the beverage are easily deteriorated by oxygen.

In the case of beverages having a low acidity such as tea beverages, cooling after sterilization (cooling to 30 ° C. or less is preferable in terms of quality, but the relationship between the internal pressure of the container after sealing, ie, the degree of vacuum, If you want to increase the price or because of the facilities,
It may be just cooled to about ° C. It is preferable to employ an aseptic filling method in which the beverage thus prepared is filled in a sterilized can under a sterile atmosphere and sealed with a sterilized can lid. in this case,
Although the entire device may be housed in a sterile room, at least the vicinity of the filling and sealing device is equipped with a hepa filter at the outside air introduction part to create a sterile atmosphere, and the inside of the sterile room has a higher pressure than the outside. In addition, it is necessary to house a filling and sealing device, and it is also necessary to sterilize an inert gas introduced to form an oxygen-free atmosphere when sealing the can through a hepa filter.

On the other hand, in the case of a beverage having a high acidity such as a fruit juice beverage, an aseptic filling method can of course be employed,
A hot filling method of filling a beverage into a can at a temperature of about 82 to 96 ° C and sterilizing the can and the inner surface of the lid with the heat of the filled beverage may be employed. Also in this case, at least at the time of sealing, an oxygen-free atmosphere is formed with an inert gas or the like. In addition, when expensive equipment such as aseptic filling equipment cannot be installed, as described above, the beverage is degassed in the storage tank, and the beverage is immediately sterilized at a high temperature and then immediately cooled, and then cooled to 60 to 90 ° C. After filling in a can and sealing in an oxygen-free atmosphere, the can itself is heated using retort sterilization or high-frequency induction heating, and at that time, the can is rotated or shaken to stir the beverage in the can In this case, post-sterilization may be performed by a method of rapidly transferring the heat of the can to the beverage. Even if such post-sterilization is performed, the amount of dissolved oxygen in the beverage is extremely small, and the amount of oxygen in the head space of the can is also small. Compared to beverages, the quality degradation of canned beverages is less.

Next, the starting method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a main part of the manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention, and portions corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. As is clear from the figure, a three-way cock (first switching means) 50 is disposed between the mixing tank 24 in which the beverage to be treated is stored, the feed pump 30 and the ion-exchanged water storage tank 52. By operating the cock 50, a water passing step of supplying ion-exchanged water to the feed pump 30, the inlet of the three-way cock 50 is communicated with the outlet of the blending tank 24, and the feed pump 30 is communicated with the blending tank 24. The target beverage process is switched.

A three-way cock (second switching means) 54 is also provided between the first heat exchanger 32 and the storage tank 34, and by operating the three-way cock 54, the outlet of the three-way cock 54 passes through a flow meter 56. The discharge step is switched between a discharge step in which the outlet port of the three-way cock 54 communicates with the supply port of the storage tank 34. Further, the pressure regulating valve 42
A flow meter 60 and a three-way cock (third switching means) 62 are disposed between the charging / sealing device 44 and the filling / sealing device 44. The operation of the three-way cock 62 switches between a discharge step of connecting the outlet of the three-way cock 62 to the discharge port and a filling / sealing step of connecting the outlet of the three-way cock 62 to the filler tank of the filling / sealing device 44.

The bottom of the storage tank 34 of this embodiment is provided with a discharge port 34a for discharging ion-exchanged water (or tap water), beverage to be treated, and the like contained in the storage tank as needed. Have been. The flow rate detected by the flow meter 60 is compared in advance with a set flow rate required for sterilization processing on that day, and the result of the comparison is fed back to the pressure feed pump 36 to control the pressure feed rate. Pump 3
Used as a first guide for setting a speed of zero.

The flow rate of the feed pump 30 is separately controlled according to an instruction from a liquid level meter 64 disposed in the storage tank 34. The storage tank 34 has a liquid level meter 64, a measuring device (for example, a refractometer, a colorimeter, a density meter or a specific gravity meter) 66 that can distinguish between the tap water or ion-exchanged water and the beverage to be treated, and a head space portion. An oxygen concentration meter 78 (see FIG. 1) for measuring the oxygen concentration, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the liquid in the storage tank (not shown) are provided, and a liquid level meter 64 has an operation lower limit level L1 and a steady state. Lower level L
2. The steady upper limit level L3 and the operation upper limit level L4 can be detected. (However, it is not necessary to limit the detection method to the liquid level meter.) When the operation is continued with the liquid level being lower than the operation lower limit level L1, the piping, the pump, This will cause air to be sucked into the heat exchanger, and in the worst case,
It also leads to idle running for pumps and the like.

Further, if the operation is continued in a state where the liquid level is higher than the operation upper limit level, there is a possibility that the liquid to be treated overflows from the storage tank. Therefore, great care must be taken when performing liquid level control near these upper and lower operating levels. When the dissolved oxygen removal setting is completed, the feed pump 30 is controlled so that the liquid level can be maintained between the steady lower limit level and the steady upper limit level. The switching operation of each cock and the like is started through the following steps.

Water flow step First, in FIG. 2, the flow rate to be carried out on the day is set while checking the flow meter 60 (example 50 l / min). The set value for the flow meter 60 is compared with the flow rate actually required when the line is operating normally.
Is performed. Further, the planned flow rate to be set by the flow meter 60 is also reflected on the speed of the feed pump 30. The three-way cock 50 is set in the water passage process (communicates with the drain of the ion-exchanged water storage tank 52), and the three-way cock 54
Is set to the storage process (connected to the supply port of the storage tank 34)
I do. The three-way cock 62 is set to the discharging step (the ion-exchanged water that has passed through the third heat exchanger 40 is discharged in front of the filling device).

The feed pump 30 is started (the pump is set in advance so that the flow rate is close to the expected flow rate). The set temperatures of the first heat exchanger 32, the second heat exchanger 38, and the third heat exchanger 40 are adjusted in advance (for example, the first heat exchanger 95 ° C, the second heat exchanger 140 ° C, Three heat exchanger 3
0 ° C). However, the steam valve for supplying steam to each of the first and second heat exchangers is stopped.

When the liquid level of the ion-exchanged water reaches the steady lower limit liquid level L2 in the storage tank 34, the pump 36 is started. The operating conditions of the feed pump 30 are changed so that the flow rate of the feed pump 30> the feed flow rate of the pressure feed pump 36. In addition, the pump 36 adjusts the flow rate to be implemented on that day. It should be noted that there is no significant difference between the feed pump 30 and the pressure pump 36.

When the liquid level in the storage tank 34 rises and the operation upper limit level L4 is detected, the three-way cock 54 is set to a discharging step (the liquid is not discharged into the storage tank 34 but discharged), and the liquid level falls. Three-way cock 5 when detected at operation lower limit level L1
4 is set to the storage step. While repeating this operation, the process proceeds to the next temperature raising step. In this way, by intentionally increasing the vertical movement of the liquid level in the storage tank beyond the steady lower limit level and the steady upper limit level, the initially introduced low-temperature ion-exchanged water stored in the storage tank. (Or tap water) and ion exchange water (or tap water) having a high temperature can be replaced in a short time. In addition, ion-exchanged water (or tap water) and the like stored in the storage tank need to be quickly degassed to near the boiling point because of the need to degas.

The head space of the temperature-raising process storage tank 34 and the pipes thereafter,
Purge (removal of oxygen present by introduction of pressurized inert gas) into the pressure feed pump 36, the second heat exchanger, the third heat exchanger, and the like is started. In the void portion above the tank liquid level of the storage tank 34, the introduced inert gas (for example, nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas) is used to discharge oxygen to the outside and prevent outside air oxygen from being mixed into ion-exchanged water and contact prevention. Is made. It is also used for discharging supersaturated oxygen generated from the liquid.

In the storage tank 34 and thereafter, a stainless steel pipe (small pipe) is introduced into the passage of the beverage to be treated, a check valve is provided in the middle of the stainless steel pipe, and an inert gas is introduced into the line. As a reason for introducing the inert gas in the middle of the pipe, there is a large possibility that air remains in the storage tank 34 and thereafter, and the flow of ion-exchanged water alone may cause a void in the tank or a dead space in the pipe. It is difficult to completely remove any oxygen that may be present. Moreover, since there is no process for removing dissolved oxygen after the storage tank 34, the residual oxygen after the storage tank is completely removed by purging with an inert gas.

When the temperature is not raised, the dissolved oxygen in the ion-exchanged water in the storage tank, the piping, the pump 36, the second heat exchanger 32, and the third heat exchanger 40 is completely removed. Since it has not been performed, there is little meaning in purging with an inert gas.

In order to send steam to the first heat exchanger 32, the steam valve is opened, and after the first heat exchanger 32 reaches a temperature set near the boiling point, ion is detected by a temperature sensor in the storage tank. After confirming again that the exchanged water is near the boiling point, the steam valve for sending steam to the second heat exchanger 38 is opened, and the second heat exchanger 38 is raised to the set sterilization temperature. After the completion of the conditions, the process proceeds to the next beverage switching process.

The object to be treated drinking switching step first, switched to a three-way cock 54 storing step. Next, the three-way cock 50 is switched to the processed beverage process (communicated with the outlet of the blending tank 24 containing the processed beverage).

The liquid level meter 64 is operated at the upper limit level L4.
Is detected, the three-way cock 62 and the three-way cock 54 are switched to the discharging process until the steady lower limit level L2 is detected, and the ion-exchanged water or the mixed liquid of the ion-exchanged water and the beverage to be processed is discharged from each of them. It is also possible to reduce the amount of feed from the feed pump 30 without setting the three-way cock 54 on the discharge side, but in this case, the first heat exchanger 32
Therefore, it is difficult to control the temperature of the heat exchanger part because the amount of liquid passing through the heat exchanger varies greatly. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the flow path is switched by the three-way cock 54 in order to change the storage amount in the storage tank 34 without changing the amount of liquid passing through the first heat exchanger 32. is there.

The liquid level meter 64 indicates the steady lower limit level L2.
Is detected, the three-way cock 54 is switched to the storage step until the level rises to the operation upper limit level L4, and the beverage to be treated is introduced into the storage tank 34. Until the mixed liquid of the ion-exchanged water and the beverage to be treated in the storage tank 34 is substantially replaced with the beverage to be treated alone, the measuring device 6 that can distinguish the ion-exchanged water (or tap water) from the beverage to be treated.
While checking the value of 6 (in the case of a tea beverage, a sugar content meter or a color difference meter), the steps of and are repeated. When the measuring device 66 indicates a predetermined value and the inside of the storage tank 34 is substantially switched to the beverage to be processed, the liquid level meter 64 is adjusted to the steady upper limit level L3.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG.
4 between the lower limit level L2 and the upper limit level L3. That is, after the detection of the steady upper limit level L3, the amount of liquid supplied by the supply pump 30 <the amount of liquid supplied by the pressure pump 36 (for example,
Feed pump 30 = Pressure feed pump 36 (100-X) / 10
0: X = approximately 5%), and the liquid level is set to the steady lower limit level L2 by making a difference in the liquid sending amount. After the detection of the steady-state lower limit level L2, the liquid feed amount of the feed pump 30> the liquid feed amount of the pressure feed pump 36 (for example, the feed pump 30 =
The liquid level is set to the steady upper limit level L3 by making a difference in the liquid feed amount so that the pressure feed pump 36 (100 + X) / 100: X = about 5%).

While repeating the above, the dissolved oxygen concentration in the liquid is confirmed by the dissolved oxygen concentration meter 69, and when the concentration reaches the target concentration, the introduction of the inert gas introduced into the pipe is stopped. The three-way cock 62 is switched to the filling / sealing device process, and the sterilized beverage is sent to the filling / sealing device 44. If the dissolved oxygen concentration meter 69 exceeds the set concentration while the beverage can is being manufactured by switching to the filling / sealing device process, the three-way cock 62 is switched to the discharging process to fill the sterilized beverage into the filling / sealing device 44. Discharge without sending. The cause of the increase in the dissolved oxygen concentration during discharge is investigated, measures are taken to reduce the dissolved oxygen concentration, and when the target concentration is restored, the process is switched to the filling and sealing device process again.

In this embodiment, the simple flow meter 5
Reference numeral 6 denotes a discharge mode in which the flow rate of the liquid feed pump 30 can be measured. However, there is no problem even without the flow meter. Further, a commercially available tank cleaning nozzle 68 is disposed in the storage tank 34 and used for CIP (Cleaning In Place) cleaning in the storage tank 34.

Next, the plate-type exchanger used in this embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a conceptual diagram of the plate type first exchanger 32. As can be seen from the figure, a beverage to be heated, for example, a tea beverage, flows through a flow path 70, while a heat medium such as steam flows through a flow path 72. A heat transfer plate 74 having a high thermal conductivity is interposed between the two flow paths 70 and 72.

Then, the tea beverage flow path route 70 from the high temperature heat medium flowing through the heat medium flow path 72 via the heat transfer plate 74.
The heat exchange is performed on the tea beverage flowing through the heat medium passage 72, and the heat medium whose temperature has dropped from the outlet of the heat medium passage 72, and the tea beverage passage 70.
The heated tea beverages respectively flow out of the outlets. FIG. 5 shows a more detailed structure of the heat exchanger used in the present embodiment. As is clear from the figure, the tea beverage flows into the heat exchanger 32 from the flow channel inlet 70a and flows out from the flow channel outlet 70b.

On the other hand, the high-temperature steam is supplied to the heat medium flow path inlet 72.
A enters the heat exchanger 32 from a and is discharged from the flow path outlet 72b. The heat exchanger 32 is provided with a large number of heat transfer plates 74 which are hermetically arranged at fine intervals. For example, a narrow passage formed by the gap between the heat transfer plates 74a and 74b has a lower entrance side tea. Tea beverage is supplied from the beverage flow path, and the tea beverage flows upward in the figure through a narrow path, and flows into the upper outlet-side tea beverage flow path.

On the other hand, a narrow gap is also formed between the heat transfer plate 74b and the heat transfer plate 74c adjacent to the heat transfer plate 74b.
A higher-temperature heat medium is supplied, and the high-temperature heat medium flows downward in the figure through a narrow path and flows into the outlet-side heat medium flow path 72b. Therefore, the tea beverage and the heat medium are only separated by the thin heat transfer plate 74b, and the tea beverage and the heat medium travel in opposite directions while exchanging heat via the heat transfer plate 74b.

As described above, the heat exchanger used in the present embodiment has a structure in which a large number of narrow paths through which the tea beverage flows and narrow paths through which the heat medium flows alternately. A uniform and efficient temperature rise can be performed in a long time. The apparatus for producing a container-filled beverage according to the present embodiment is configured as described above. After starting these as described above, the apparatus is operated as follows to produce a container-filled beverage.

In the method for producing a container-packed beverage according to the present embodiment, the beverage to be treated is rapidly heated by the plate-type first heat exchanger 32 to a temperature near its boiling point. At this time, since the solubility of the gas in the aqueous solution decreases as the temperature increases, most of the dissolved oxygen becomes supersaturated or in a state of fine bubbles by heating by the first heat exchanger 32. When the tea beverage in this state is released to the storage tank 34, the supersaturated oxygen of dissolved oxygen and the oxygen in the form of fine bubbles are released to the head space above the storage tank 34. Therefore, by removing the headspace gas, most of the dissolved oxygen in the tea beverage is removed.

For example, FIG. 6 shows a relationship between dissolved oxygen in ion-exchanged water and temperature. As is clear from the figure, about 9 ppm of dissolved oxygen was present at 20 ° C., but the dissolved oxygen concentration was about 5 ppm at a temperature of 60 ° C. and about 1 ppm at a temperature of 95 ° C. Therefore, the dissolved oxygen concentration was 5 ppm when the temperature of the tea beverage in the mixing tank 24 was 60 ° C., but when the tea beverage was heated to 95 ° C. in the heat exchanger 32, the dissolved oxygen concentration was increased. Because it is 1 ppm,
Excess dissolved oxygen with a difference of 4 ppm becomes supersaturated or in the form of fine bubbles. A dissolved oxygen concentration of 2 ppm or less has a significant significance in the quality of canned tea, and a concentration of 1 ppm or less is an oxygen concentration that is extremely effective in improving storage stability over a long period of time even in tea beverages and the like. .

When the excess dissolved oxygen is injected into the storage tank 34 in this state, the excess dissolved oxygen is released into the head space portion of the storage tank 34. On the other hand, aseptic nitrogen gas which has been sterilized by a filter from a nitrogen cylinder 76 is supplied into the storage tank 34, and air (oxygen) released from the tea beverage into the head space is opened together with the nitrogen gas. 34a (FIG. 1) is discharged out of the system. And the dissolved oxygen concentration is 2pp
The preparation liquid reduced to m or less is fed to the plate-type second heat exchanger 38 by the pressure feed pump 36. The second heat exchanger 38 is composed of a heat exchanger similar to the plate-type second heat exchanger 32. However, in order to raise the temperature of the mixture to a high temperature equal to or higher than the normal pressure boiling point, the pump 36 does not boil the mixture. Pressure is applied as follows.

The dissolved oxygen concentration 2 obtained as described above
The tea beverage having a concentration of ppm or less is immediately cooled to 30 ° C. by the plate-type second heat exchanger 40, and then supplied to a filling / sealing device 44 disposed in a sterile room (not shown) via a pressure control valve 42. You. The filling / sealing device 44 includes a filling device and a sealing device. The sterilized can is filled with a tea beverage in a sterile atmosphere, and the can is sealed with a sterilized can lid. In addition, nitrogen gas sterilized by a filter is also supplied to the filling / sealing device 44, and after the tea beverage is filled in a can,
It is sealed by the can lid with substantially no contact with oxygen.

As described above, according to the method for producing a container-filled beverage according to the present embodiment, the beverage to be treated is retained near its boiling point under normal pressure, degassed during this time, and further pressurized. In order to perform sufficient sterilization under high pressure, the preparation liquid filled by the filling and sealing device 44 is sufficiently sterilized and degassed. In this embodiment, the nitrogen gas is supplied to the head space portion of the storage tank 34. However, for example, bubbling in the storage tank 34 is also possible for beverages in which flavor emission is not a problem. Further, in this embodiment, nitrogen gas is also supplied into the mixing tank 24 in order to achieve more complete degassing.

In this embodiment, an oxygen concentration meter 78 is provided in the head space of the storage tank 34 and the head space of the filling / sealing device 44 (filler), and the head space of the storage tank 34 and the head of the filler are provided. The oxygen concentration in the space is constantly monitored, and the supply amount of nitrogen gas is controlled (increased or decreased) so that the oxygen concentration in each step does not exceed a certain level. In this embodiment, the storage tank 3
For example, it is preferable to use the structure 4 as shown in FIG.

That is, in the storage tank 34 shown in the figure, an inflow path 80 is provided in a lower part of the storage tank 34, and an outflow path 82 is provided in a lower part on the opposite side, and a partition wall 84 is provided between the two flow paths 80, 82. Have been. For this reason, the beverage flowing in from the inflow channel 80 is hindered by the partition wall 84 and reaches the liquid level (the contact surface with the head space) once, and after sufficient deaeration is performed, the outflow channel 8
2 to the second heat exchanger 38. For this reason, there is no liquid accumulation inside the storage tank 34, and the degassing efficiency is increased.

Although the above embodiment has been described taking a tea drink as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present retort for coffee (black), tea drinks (sencha, oolong tea, black tea), etc. Beverages to be sterilized, as well as canned and bottled beverages such as fruit beverages, sports beverages, sterilized lactic acid bacteria beverages, tomato and vegetable juices, beverages packed in plastic containers, and composite containers made of paper, plastic, metal foil, etc. It goes without saying that the present invention is also applicable to beverages.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the aseptic filling method. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the hot filling method of sterilizing the inner surface of the container with the heat of the beverage, and filling at 60 to 90 ° C. The present invention is also applicable to a method for producing a beverage can, which is subjected to post-sterilization after sealing. In the above embodiment, a plate heat exchanger is used as the heat exchanger. However, for example, a thin tube heat exchanger may be used.

[0065]

As described above, according to the apparatus for manufacturing a container-filled beverage according to the present invention, the beverage to be treated is preheated to near the boiling point, degassed by holding it at normal pressure, and then heated to a high temperature and pressure. Since sufficient sterilization is performed, sufficient deaeration can be performed before high-temperature, short-time sterilization.
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to produce a packaged beverage without substantially impairing the color tone at the time of blending the beverage, the flavor, and the dissolved oxygen amount and the residual oxygen amount in the headspace portion of the container during storage of the packaged beverage are small. Therefore, the above components can be stably stored. Further, in the start-up method according to the present invention, a water-passing step of flowing water into the system, and a temperature increase in which the temperature of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are increased while greatly raising and lowering the liquid level in the storage tank. By adopting the process and the process of switching to the beverage to be treated, the liquid in the storage tank is brought close to the temperature and concentration state of the beverage to be treated heated to the degassing temperature supplied from the feeding means in a short time. Temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration in a short time, while minimizing the loss of the beverage in the transient state.
Water can be replaced with a beverage to be treated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a beverage can manufacturing apparatus used in a method for manufacturing a container-packed beverage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a main part showing a state at the time of startup according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a main part showing a steady state in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a concept of a heat exchanger used for a preheating unit, a sterilizing unit, and a cooling unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a plate heat exchanger used in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between the temperature of ion-exchanged water and the concentration of dissolved oxygen.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a temporary storage tank used in the apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 Beverage deaeration / sterilization / filling / sealing device 30 Feeding pump (feeding means) 32 First heat exchanger (preheating means) 34 Storage tank (degassing means) 36 Pressure feeding pump (pressure feeding means) 38 Second type heat Exchanger (sterilizing means) 40 Third type heat exchanger (cooling means) 44 Filling / sealing device (filling means) 50 Three-way cock (first switching means) 54 Three-way cock (second switching means) 62 Three-way cock (third) Switching means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A feeding means for feeding a liquid selected from water and a beverage to be treated to a filling device under substantially normal pressure, and the liquid fed by the feeding means is rapidly cooled to a temperature near its boiling point. A first heat exchanger for heating, a storage tank capable of storing the heated liquid for a short time while holding the headspace portion, a degassing means for exhausting air from the headspace portion of the storage tank, Pumping means for pumping the liquid degassed by the gas means to the filling device side; and a second heat exchanger for sterilizing the liquid pumped by the pumping means at a high temperature of 100 ° C. or higher at a high temperature for a short time. A third heat exchanger for rapidly cooling the sterilized liquid to a filling temperature, filling the beverage to be treated cooled to the filling temperature into a container that has been washed on at least the inner side, and substantially contacting oxygen. From a filling device and a sealing device that seals continuously A filling means to be formed, and a pipe means provided between the liquid supply source and the filling apparatus and through which the liquid passes, wherein the feeding means And between the water and the supply source of the beverage to be treated, comprising first switching means capable of switching and supplying the water and the beverage to be treated, between the first heat exchanger and the storage tank. Comprises a second switching means capable of switching between supply / non-supply of the supply liquid from the first heat exchanger to the storage tank, and between the third heat exchanger and the filling means. A third switching unit capable of switching between supply / non-supply of the supply liquid from the third heat exchanger to the filling unit, and a liquid level detector and oxygen in a head space portion in the storage tank. Oxygen meter to measure concentration and meter to detect switching from water to beverage to be treated An apparatus for producing a container-filled beverage, comprising: a measuring instrument; and a dissolved oxygen concentration meter provided in a pipe means between the storage tank and the filling device. 2. A feeding means for feeding a liquid selected from water and a beverage to be processed to a filling device under substantially normal pressure, and the liquid fed by the feeding means is rapidly cooled to a temperature near its boiling point. A first heat exchanger for heating, a storage tank capable of storing the heated liquid for a short time while holding the headspace portion, a degassing means for exhausting air from the headspace portion of the storage tank, Pumping means for pumping the liquid degassed by the gas means to the filling measurement side, and a second heat exchanger for sterilizing the liquid pumped by the pumping means at a high temperature of 100 ° C. or more under high pressure for a short time. A third heat exchanger for rapidly cooling the sterilized liquid to a filling temperature, filling the treated beverage cooled to the filling temperature into a container having at least an inner surface washed, and substantially contacting oxygen. Filling and sealing equipment that seals continuously A filling means configured; a pipe means provided between the supply source of the liquid and the filling device, through which the liquid passes; and a supply source of the supply means, the water, and the beverage to be treated. Between the first heat exchanger and the storage tank between the first heat exchanger and the storage tank. A second switching unit capable of switching supply / non-supply of the supply liquid to the storage tank; and between the third heat exchanger and the filling means, a supply liquid supplied from the third heat exchanger. A third switching unit capable of switching supply / non-supply to the filling unit; and a liquid level detector and an oxygen concentration meter for measuring an oxygen concentration in a head space portion in the storage tank; A measuring device for detecting the switching, wherein the storage tank and the filling device A method for starting a container-filled beverage manufacturing device including a dissolved oxygen concentration meter in a conduit means between the water supply step and the water supply step of supplying the water by the feeding means, A temperature raising step of raising the temperature of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger to each set temperature while raising and lowering the liquid level between the upper limit level and the lower limit level; Until the concentration of the beverage to be treated in the storage tank reaches a substantially steady state, while discharging the stored liquid while raising and lowering the liquid level of the storage tank, and after reaching the steady state, to the filling means. A method for starting a container-filled beverage manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a process of switching a beverage to be processed, which starts supplying the beverage. 3. The starting method according to claim 2, wherein in the heating step and the switching step from water to the beverage to be processed, an inert gas is passed through the pipe means after the storage tank and oxygen in the pipe means is provided. A method for starting a container-filled beverage production apparatus, comprising: