JPS6225932A - Gas sterilization apparatus for vacuum preservation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep the space in a storage chamber clean, by using an apparatus for ozonizing a part of oxygen in cooled air circulating under reduced pressure, and placing the ozonizing apparatus between the outer wall having cold- maintaining heat-insulation wall and the inner chamber for the vacuum preservation and having high thermal conductivity. CONSTITUTION:The apparatus is furnished with the outer chamber 1 made of a cold-maintaining and heat-insulating property and durable to vacuum and the inner chamber to hold a material to be preserved and separated from the outer chamber with the cooled air circulation channel 2, and a discharge electrode 8 is protruded into the cooled air circulation channel 2. Oxygen in the cooled air is ozonized by the ozonizer 7 to exterminate the micro-oroganisms attached to the wall of the outer chamber 1 or inner chamber 3 or existing in the leaked gas. The input power to the ozonizer 7 is controlled by the ozone concentration sensor 9 in a manner to keep the ozone concentration within a range uninfluential to the preserved material.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is directed to gas sterilization for vacuum storage devices that store raw foodstuffs such as fruits and vegetables and other raw materials at low temperatures and low pressures. It is related to the device.

[Prior Art] Japanese Patent Application No. 59-38654 describes a vacuum storage method in which stored materials are left in a windless state under the conditions of reduced pressure, low temperature, high humidity, and atmospheric gas that suppresses growth. As shown in the figure, an inner container C for storing stored items is provided inside an outer container A for cold air circulation, which has a cold insulation property and a vacuum-resistant structure, leaving a cold air circulation space B around the outer container A. A refrigerant pipe E connected to a refrigerator and a cold air circulation fan F are arranged in the container C to maintain the optimal pressure, wet surface, temperature, and atmospheric gas condition in the inner container C depending on the stored material. A double vacuum storage container has been proposed in which the interior of the inner container C is maintained in a windless state.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, in such conventionally proposed vacuum storage devices, because they are under reduced pressure, the number of germs per volume is small.
It has the advantage of suppressing the growth of bacteria, but has the problem that it cannot remove bacteria contained in the gas leaking into the container, nor can it remove bacteria attached to the inner surface of the container. .

Therefore, even if the number of bacteria per volume is small, it is not possible to remove bacteria that are attached to the container or that have invaded the container, so even if optimal storage conditions are maintained, as a result These bacteria can accelerate the spoilage of stored materials, and undesirable bacteria can grow in stored materials.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a gas sterilizer for a vacuum storage device that can effectively sterilize or suppress the proliferation of bacteria in the gas that adheres to such containers or leaks. There are many things.

1. Means for Solving Problem 1] In order to achieve the above object, the gas sterilizer for a vacuum storage device according to the present invention has an outer chamber having a structure that is cold and insulating and can withstand vacuum; At least one vacuum storage inner chamber which is arranged to withstand the pressure difference between the outer chamber and the storage strip '1 and has good heat conductivity, and between which part of the oxygen in the cold air circulating under reduced pressure is stored. It is characterized by the installation of a discharge device that turns the area into ozone.

[Function] The gas sterilizer for a vacuum storage device according to the present invention configured as described above functions as follows. The pressure during vacuum storage of the vacuum storage capacity is 2.7×10 pa~・2
．． If the ozone generator is not operated under such conditions, energy is added to the oxygen in the atmospheric gas circulating in the outer chamber, forming ozone, which has a sterilizing effect. is generated.

The amount of ozone generated can be controlled by detecting the ozone concentration in the cold air circulation passage and adjusting the entrance to the ozone generator.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 of the attached PTT drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the gas sterilization device for vacuum storage equipment of the present invention, where 1 is a cold-insulating and vacuum-resistant monthly charger, for example, 1 tank - 1~ and the outer periphery is cold-insulating. This is an outer chamber made of 1 material covered with A, and there is a cold air circulation passage 2 around it.
An interior chamber 3 is provided for accommodating storage items. Also arranged in the cold air circulation passage 2 are a refrigerant pipe 5 connected to a suitable refrigeration unit 1 or 4 and a cold air circulation fan 6. The inner chamber 3 is made of a material with good heat conductivity, is designed to withstand the pressure difference between the pressure in the outer chamber 1 and the pressure in the inner chamber 3 under equilibrium conditions of storage, and is designed to withstand the pressure difference between the pressure in the outer chamber 1 and the pressure in the inner chamber 3, and to Depending on the scale of the device, one or more may be installed, or the interior may be multi-chambered. Reference numeral 7 denotes an ozone generator, which includes, for example, a discharge electrode 8 projecting into the cold air circulation passage 2 in the outer room 1 as shown in the figure. Alternatively, an ozone generator equipped with a discharge tube for generating ultraviolet light may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the discharge electrode 8 is arranged at a position adjacent to the refrigerant pipe 5, but it can be provided at any position in the cold air circulation passage 2 if necessary, and more than one may be provided if necessary. good. Reference numeral 9 denotes an ozone concentration detector, which is used to control ozone generation so as not to adversely affect stored materials.

Although not shown in the drawings, the outer chamber 1 is connected to a decompression pump, and the inner chamber 3 includes a steam generator (e.g. humidifier) and a gas introduction device for maintaining the storage atmosphere in a desired state. It is also combined with an exhaust port for a vacuum pump. Naturally, the outer chamber 1 and the inner chamber 3 have an opening/closing section for loading and unloading stored fabrics, and storage conditions such as cold air circulation and pressure adjustment in the outer chamber 1 are automatically controlled by appropriate control means. Alternatively, it can be done manually.

In operation of the apparatus of the IC illustrated embodiment constructed in this manner, the apparatus is operated to store the stored material under conditions of reduced pressure, low temperature, high humidity, and growth-inhibiting atmospheric gas suitable for the stored material. be done. The inside of the cold air circulation passage 2 formed between the outer chamber 1 and the inner chamber 3 is 2.7×10 Pa ~
The pressure is maintained at approximately 2.7 x 104 Pa, and the cold air is circulated by the action of the refrigerant pipe 5 and the cold air circulation fan 6. When this circulating cold air passes through the discharge electrode 8 of the discharge device 7, it is converted to oxygen in the cold air. Energy is added and ozone is formed. The ozone thus formed kills fungi adhering to the walls of the outer chamber 1 and the inner chamber 3 or in the leaking gas. Note that the input to the osin generator 7 can be appropriately controlled so that the ozone concentration detected by the ozone concentration detector 9 has a value that does not affect the stored material.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the gas sterilizer for vacuum storage device according to the present invention, C is arranged in an outer chamber having a structure that is cold and insulating and can withstand vacuum, and is arranged in the outer chamber, and is arranged in the outer chamber. and at least one vacuum storage chamber that can withstand the differential pressure under the storage conditions of This makes it possible to effectively remove bacteria contained in the gas leaking from the outside atmosphere and bacteria adhering to the walls of the storage room, making it possible to keep the inside of the storage room clean. Not only this, but also it is possible to prevent contamination of stored materials by bacteria and acceleration of spoilage.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a dual vacuum storage device using a conventional reduced pressure storage method. In the figure, 1: outer room, 2: cold air circulation passage, 3: inner room, 4: refrigerator, 5: refrigerant pipe, 6: cold air circulation fan, 7: ozone generator, 8: discharge electrode, 9 niosine concentration Detector.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has an outer chamber having a structure that is cold and insulating and can withstand vacuum, and at least one inner chamber for vacuum storage that is placed within the outer chamber and has good heat conductivity and can withstand differential pressure under storage conditions with the outer chamber. death,
In a vacuum storage device in which cold air is circulated under reduced pressure in the outer chamber, ozone is generated between the outer chamber and the inner chamber by converting a part of the oxygen in the circulating storage atmosphere gas into ozone. A gas sterilization device for a vacuum storage device, characterized in that the device is provided with a gas sterilization device.