JPS61273318A - Vacuum packer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an apparatus for vacuum packaging objects containing liquid.

(Prior Art) The objects to be packaged by the apparatus of the present invention are mainly foodstuffs. For example, the taste of boiled beans is preserved by the flavoring liquid in which they are boiled, and the taste of pickles is preserved by the salty water in which they are soaked. Therefore, when many foods are commercialized, they are packaged together with a liquid in a container, and a vacuum may be applied to the container to improve shelf life.

However, when a liquid is subjected to a vacuum, it has the property of boiling and overflowing from the mouth of the container, which could contaminate the container or cause the product to be under-measured due to the liquid coming out of the bath, so it is not possible to apply a very high vacuum. In particular, if the temperature of the liquid is high during packaging, the vacuum value when the liquid boils will also be lower. The boiling point of the same packaged material is different in the cold regions of the north and the warm regions of the south, and there are also differences during the night and day.

In addition, the boiling vacuum value of the packaged item immediately after boiling is lower. For this reason, conventionally, when vacuum packaging items containing liquid, the time required from the start of operation to the boiling point is set with sufficient margin, the boiling point is detected by a mechanical timer, and the vacuum is packaged. In addition to cutting the line, the opening of the packaging container is sealed. Therefore, it is not possible to obtain a highly accurate vacuum state, and there is a drawback that diluted air remains in the container. For this reason, especially if the container is transparent, air bubbles can be seen from the outside of the container.
Product value decreases.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In view of the above points, the present invention is designed to control the timing of cutting the vacuum line just before the boiling of the liquid according to the temperature of the liquid, thereby reducing the amount of air remaining in the container. It is C2-treated to reduce the amount of accumulation.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an electromagnetic opening/closing system 1 in the vacuum line αa connecting the vacuum chamber α and the vacuum source (13) as shown in FIG. A valve a9, an element for operating the sealer αυ provided in the vacuum chamber QOI, a temperature sensor (c) provided in the vacuum chamber (10), and a vacuum sensor (28) provided in the vacuum chamber Ql. means for inputting and comparing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the vacuum value detected by the vacuum sensor; storing the vacuum value at which the liquid boils in relation to the temperature; The apparatus is constructed of a means for determining a boiling vacuum value, and a command means for generating signals for operating the electromagnetic opening valve and the sealer operating element, respectively, in accordance with the determination by the determining means.

According to the present invention, the liquid inside the bag is transferred to a temperature sensor.
(25) On the other hand, the vacuum value inside the vacuum Hokkumi Q is detected by the vacuum sensor C8, and the vacuum value at which the liquid boils is automatically determined according to the liquid temperature, and the vacuum line α Since the electromagnetic on-off valve a9 and the sealer operating element are operated, the vacuum value can be increased to near the limit at which the liquid boils, and therefore the amount of air remaining in the bag can be reduced.

(Example) As shown in Fig. 2, two members (10a) (10b)
The vacuum chamber (10) formed by the above forms a space in which a packaging container (bag Q in the drawing) is placed. A sealer aυ is supported by a diaphragm actuator (121) on the main body member α○a) on the − side, and a vacuum line formed by a pipe is connected between the main body member αOa and the vacuum source (13). A normally open type first electromagnetic on/off valve (15), which is an opening/closing means for the vacuum line, and a normally closed third electromagnetic on/off valve (IQ), which is an atmospheric introduction means, are installed in the vacuum line. On the other hand, a normally closed second electromagnetic on-off valve α is provided on the actuator operation line ←D that connects the actuator α and the vacuum source (13). The sealer α can be operated to separate from the main body member αOa), and the sealer α
A sealing stand a9 is provided at a position opposite to υ. moreover,
The vacuum chamber (10) is provided with a clamp (2ω) that clamps the mouth of the bag prisoner and a clamping plate (2I) (221) that clamps the bag Q from the front and back.

On the other hand, a plurality of temperature sensors are supported on the clamping plate Cυ! 5) (25a) and (25b) are arranged so as to be in contact with the surface of the bag (2), and each of these temperature sensors detects the average value or total value of the temperature of the liquid in the bag as an analog signal, and the converter @ ( 2. Therefore, the liquid temperature detection means is configured to convert it into a digital signal.

In addition, the illustrated temperature sensors (two (25a) (25b)
) is a type that detects the temperature by directly contacting the object, such as a thermocouple or resistance temperature detector, but there are also types that measure the temperature without contacting the object, such as a radiation temperature sensor or an infrared radiation thermometer. It is also possible to use a detection type.

In addition, a vacuum sensor 128) is provided in the vacuum line that is a substantial part of the vacuum chamber αω, and the degree of vacuum in the vacuum chamber (1 (1)) detected by the vacuum sensor is converted into a digital signal by a converter (29). It seems to be converted to (Niji).

The three electromagnetic on-off valves αeot81 already explained are the Lemo microcomputer C3f) and the output circuit C31.
)C32+ (33). The microcomputer (to) includes a microprocessor (central processing unit) (34), a memory (storage device) O9,
It consists of an interface [input/output signal processing circuit] (g) and (ii).

The temperature of the liquid in the bag Q is input to the interface (to) as a digital signal via temperature sensors (251 (25a) (25b) and a converter), while the vacuum source α
The degree of vacuum inside the vacuum chamber (101), which gradually changes due to the suction effect caused by the suction, is input as a digital signal via a vacuum sensor (to) and a converter (29).

(Function) The boiling points of liquids in relation to various temperatures and vacuum values are stored in advance in the memory 0ω in FIG. 2 as a data table. In the case of boiled bean soup with relatively high viscosity, the vacuum value of the soup at 70°C is approximately 65QmrnHg to 670
mmHg is the boiling point, and the temperature of the same soup at 90℃ is 420
It boils at about nLmHg.

Therefore, after the bag Q filled with liquid in the opened vacuum chamber 〇 is supported and placed on a clamp (Company), the lid member αob) is brought into close contact with the main body member αO0 again. at the same time,
The operation function of the microcomputer is started by detecting the operation of sealing the chamber α by, for example, the microswitch 'f' and sending a signal indicating that the vacuum chamber has been sealed to the microcomputer. Immediately, air suction in the vacuum chamber is started via the vacuum line α→, and at the same time (the temperature of the liquid in the two bags is detected by the temperature sensor (25) (25a)
) (25b) and the transducer interface (
Entered into the pottery. On the other hand, the vacuum value in the vacuum chamber αα, which descends at a predetermined slope, is measured by the vacuum sensor (to) and the converter (to), which are vacuum value detection means, and is input to the interface (to). In this case, each boiling point according to the relationship between the various liquid temperatures and the degree of vacuum is stored in the memory GE9, so when the liquid temperature and the vacuum value are compared, when the vacuum value just before the boiling point is reached, the microprocessor (
(b) Command 1: First, a signal is sent to the first electromagnetic on-off valve Kasumi (= signal) through the output circuit (31), and by closing the valve, the vacuum line αa is cut to prevent the liquid from boiling; Subsequently, two signals are sent to the second electromagnetic on-off valve (18) via another output circuit (to), and by opening the valve, the actuator (I
Inside z (forming two differential pressures and operating sea 2 (11), weld the mouth of bag When the valve is opened, atmospheric air is introduced into the vacuum t-ramper arj.

In the above embodiment, the microcomputer (10) inputs and determines via the vacuum value detection means that the degree of vacuum in the vacuum chamber (10) has reached a value just before the boiling point of the liquid.
(to) first operates the first electromagnetic on-off valve α9 and then operates the second electromagnetic on-off valve α mallet via the command means, but as another embodiment, first the second electromagnetic on-off valve Solenoid on-off valve (1
The object of the present invention can also be achieved by operating step 8) to seal the bag opening and then operating the first electromagnetic on-off valve αω to cut the vacuum line a→.

In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the actuator (12) operates the sealer housing υ, so a second electromagnetic opening/closing valve is required, but it is conceivable to use an electromagnetic remade as the power source for the sealer 2←υ. In the case of such an embodiment, the output circuit (c) connected to the second electromagnetic on-off valve α frame is directly connected to the electromagnetic solenoid.

Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the electromagnetic opening/closing valve (119) for opening to the atmosphere is operated under the control of the microcomputer, but this is not an essential requirement for the present invention. Other electromagnetic shut-off valves (
151αQ is an essential element for the purpose of the present invention, as it is activated just before the liquid boils and is necessary to prevent the vacuum value from rising and to seal the mouth of the bag. valve(
Le functions only in the final stage (=activation and introducing the atmosphere) and can also be controlled by a timer.

In other words, the third electromagnetic opening/closing valve does not need to operate with such high time precision as to compete for a split second, so it does not necessarily need to be controlled by a microcomputer.

Although other ★ embodiments have been described above, the embodiment shown in FIG. shows.

Vacuum chamber (10) with a bag containing liquid inside
When the finger is closed, the control function of the microcomputer OQ starts S2. At the same time, the first electromagnetic on-off valve 9, which had been in the closed state, is opened and the vacuum line α is opened.

First, the temperature of the liquid inside the bag increases, followed by the vacuum inside the pitch-dark chamber.
is input 8485. The liquid temperature and the vacuum value are compared and a calculation is made to determine whether or not to continue vacuum operation. If there is enough vacuum before the liquid boils, use the vacuum valve α9.
When the vacuum value approaches the boiling point of the liquid, the vacuum line is closed). Next, the second electromagnetic on-off valve αQ (
2) After manipulating the sealer and sealing the bag opening, the 3rd
Open the atmosphere release valve, which is an electromagnetic on-off valve (LE). Then, when the vacuum chamber is released, the operating function of the microcomputer stops (313), and at the same time, the sealer returns to its normal position and the atmosphere valve closes. River.

(Effects) In the present invention, the vacuum value at which the liquid placed in the container boils can be controlled to be determined by memory, so even if the temperature of the liquid changes variously, the vacuum value can be raised to the verge of boiling. Compared to conventional vacuum-packaged products that were obtained through prospective control using a timer, etc., the amount of residual air inside can be reduced, which has the effect of improving the shelf life and product value of the packaged items.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific embodiment of the previous diagram, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the flowchart of the previous diagram. αG...Vacuum chamber, αω...Sheila, α2・
...Actuator, αω...Vacuum source, αXun...Vacuum line, αω...First electromagnetic on-off valve, (1e...Third electromagnetic on-off valve, (17)...Actuator operation line, α樟...Second electromagnetic on-off valve, (20...Clamp, (2...Temperature sensor, +26)--Converter, (2...Vacuum sensor, @...Converter, ( To)・
-Microcomputer, 134-...Microprocessor-2(c)--Memory. (to)--interface, (A)--bag. Figure 1 2rIJ

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electromagnetic on-off valve (15) interposed in a vacuum line (14) connecting a vacuum chamber (10) and a vacuum source (13), and a sealer (11) provided in the vacuum chamber (10).
), a temperature sensor (25) provided in the vacuum chamber (10), a vacuum sensor (28) provided in the vacuum chamber (10), and a temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the vacuum means for inputting and comparing the vacuum value detected by the sensor; means for storing the vacuum value at which the liquid boils in relation to temperature and determining the vacuum value at which the liquid boils according to the comparison by the comparing means; A vacuum packaging apparatus comprising command means for generating signals for respectively operating the electromagnetic on-off valve and the sealer operating element in accordance with a determination by the determination means.