TW201605352A - Sterilization method and apparatus thereof of fruits and vegetables - Google Patents

Abstract

A fruit or vegetable (strawberry 1) contained in a package P is irradiated with an electron beam from outside the package P, thereby sterilizing the strawberry. The thickness of the package P is 350 [mu]m or less, the accelerating voltage of the electron beam is set to not less than 150 kV and not more than 300 kV, and the fruit or vegetable contained in the package is irradiated with an electron beam from one side of the package and the other side, thereby irradiating the entire periphery of the strawberry with electron beams. This method allows fruits and vegetables to be stored for longer periods.

Description

Sterilization method of fruit and vegetable and sterilization device for fruit and vegetable

The present invention relates to a sterilizing method for fruit and vegetables and a sterilizing device for fruit and vegetables, and more particularly relates to a sterilizing method for a fruit vegetable which sterilizes the fruit and vegetable contained in the package, and a sterilizing device for the fruit and vegetable.

In the conventional sterilization method, the sterilized material is stored in a package, and the electron beam is irradiated from the outside of the package to sterilize the sterilized material contained in the package (Patent Documents 1 and 2). Specifically, in the above-described Patent Document 1, a sealed body obtained by sealing and packaging a plurality of packaging materials in an oxygen concentration of 0.1% or less is housed in a corrugated cardboard box, and then irradiated with an electron beam to sterilize the packaging material. Further, in Patent Document 2, the tomographic image in the irradiation direction is imaged to obtain the density distribution of the object to be irradiated, and then the dose distribution variation of the irradiation radiation in the object to be irradiated is suppressed to a predetermined standard based on the density distribution. The irradiation conditions are determined in a manner below the value, and radiation irradiation according to the irradiation conditions is performed. [Prior Technical Literature] [Patent Literature]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-167029

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the sterilization methods of Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above use an electron beam having an acceleration voltage of 1 MeV to 10 MeV or a high energy, and an electron beam using such a high acceleration voltage requires a large device structure. In addition, in the case of sterilizing a fruit or vegetable such as strawberry, the package form, irradiation conditions, and the like are not appropriate. Therefore, the present invention provides a sterilizing method for a fruit and vegetable and a sterilizing device for a fruit and vegetable which can be effectively sterilized by using an electron beam to sterilize the fruit and vegetable contained in the package, and can be stored for a longer period of time. [Means for solving problems]

That is, the method for sterilizing the fruit and vegetable according to the first aspect of the patent application is that the fruit and vegetable contained in the package are irradiated with an electron beam from the outside of the package to sterilize the fruit and vegetable, and the characteristics are as follows: 350 μm or less, and the acceleration voltage of the electron beam is set to 150 kV or more and 300 kV or less, and the electron beam is irradiated to one side and the other side of the fruit dish accommodated in the package to irradiate the electron beam over the entire circumference of the fruit and vegetable. .

Further, the sterilizing device for fruit and vegetable according to the fourth aspect of the invention includes: a conveying device that transports a package containing the fruit and vegetable; and an electron beam irradiation device that irradiates the electron beam on the package conveyed by the conveying device, The thickness of the package is set to 350 μm or less, and the acceleration voltage of the electron beam is set to 150 kV or more and 300 kV or less. The electron beam irradiation device irradiates electrons from one side and the other side to the fruit vegetables accommodated in the package. bundle. [Effect of the invention]

In the invention of the first aspect of the invention and the fourth aspect of the invention, the thickness of the package is 350 μm or less, and the acceleration voltage of the electron beam of the electron beam irradiation apparatus is set to 150 kV or more and 300 kV or less. As long as it is contained in the general packaging, it can be sterilized.

The following is a description of the embodiment, and FIG. 1 shows a sterilizing device 2 for sterilizing strawberry 1 as a fruit and vegetable by an electron beam, and a transfer device 3 for transporting the package P containing the strawberry 1 and the above The electron beam irradiation device 4 that irradiates the electron beam on the package P of the transfer device 3 is used. As shown in Fig. 2, the strawberry 1 sterilized in the present embodiment is a soy portion 1a for serving, a so-called pedicle 1b located at the upper portion of the receptacle portion 1a, and a majority attached to the outer peripheral surface of the receptacle portion 1a. The fruit 1c is composed. Further, in the strawberry 1 described above, in order to suppress the occurrence of mildew, it is preferable to irradiate the electron beam in the entire region of the strawberry 1 and set the acceleration voltage of the electron beam to be the pedicle 1b even on the back side of the pedicle 1b or the fruit 1c. Or the portion behind the fruit 1c, the irradiated electron beam can also reach the surface of the receptacle portion 1a through the pedicle 1b or the fruit 1c.

Fig. 3 shows a package P in which a plurality of strawberries 1 can be accommodated, (a) showing a structural view and (b) showing a plan view. The package P is a disk-shaped tray portion 11 located on the back side of the lower side, a transparent cover portion 12 covering the tray portion 11, a tray-side protective film 13 interposed between the tray portion 11 and the strawberry 1, and The lid portion 12 and the cover side protective film 14 between the strawberries 1 are formed. Each of the tray portion 11 and the lid portion 12 is made of a resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, and the resin has rigidity to maintain a predetermined shape even if the strawberry 1 is accommodated, and has a required thickness, and the tray side The protective film 13 and the cover side protective film 14 are made of a flexible resin such as polyethylene, and the resin has flexibility to the extent that the contacted strawberry 1 does not get hurt. Further, the tray side protective film 13 is formed with a plurality of accommodating portions 13a formed by the shape of a concave portion formed in the shape of the strawberry 1. Thus, when the strawberry 1 is housed in the package P, the adjacent strawberry 1 and strawberry 1 can be maintained. The state of isolation from each other. Further, the total thickness of the tray portion 11 and the tray side protective film 13 and the total thickness of the lid portion 12 and the lid side protective film 14 are preferably 350 μm or less in accordance with the results of experiments described later. Further, as the package P, those having other structures, such as a bag shape, may be used, or the tray side protective film 13 or the cover side protective film 14 may be omitted. However, according to the experimental results described later, it is necessary to make the strawberries 1 adjacent to each other in the package P not in contact with each other, and the bag-shaped person or the above-mentioned omitted film can form a structure in which only one strawberry 1 is accommodated.

The transporting device 3 is a pair of chain conveyors, and the pair of chain conveyors support the flange portion of the outer peripheral edge of the tray portion 11 of the package P to be transported by the lower side, thereby transporting the tray of the package P The portion 11 and the lid portion 12 can be exposed up and down, respectively. The electron beam irradiation apparatus 4 is provided along the transport direction of the transport apparatus 3, and the first electron beam irradiation apparatus 4A located on the upstream side is disposed above the transport apparatus 3, and the second electron beam irradiation apparatus located on the downstream side. 4B is disposed below the conveying device 3. The electron beam irradiation device 4 can respectively irradiate the electron beam to the conveying device 3, and is classified as a so-called low-energy device whose acceleration voltage is set to a maximum of 300 kV.

With the above configuration, the package P transported by the transport device 3 sequentially passes under the first electron beam irradiation device 4A and above the second electron beam irradiation device 4B, and the electrons irradiated by the first electron beam irradiation device 4A. The lid portion 12 and the lid side protective film 14 that have passed through the package P are irradiated onto the upper surface side of the strawberry 1, and then the electron beam transmitting tray portion 11 and the tray side protective film 13 irradiated by the second electron beam irradiation device 4B are irradiated onto the strawberry 1 Below the side. Further, since the strawberry 1 in the package P is kept in a state of being separated from each other by the accommodating portion 13a, the electron beam irradiated up and down can be irradiated onto the entire circumference of the strawberry 1 to sterilize the entire strawberry 1. At this time, in the pedicle 1b and the fruit 1c of the strawberry 1, the electron beam is transmitted therethrough, and the contact portion with the receptacle portion 1a is sterilized, and the entire package P containing the strawberry 1 can be simultaneously sterilized. Further, by adjusting the transport speed of the package P of the transport device 3, the dose of the electron beam irradiated onto the strawberry 1 contained in the package P can be adjusted. For example, if the package P is transported at a low speed, the dose of the electron beam can be increased.

4 and 5 are tables showing experimental results of sterilization of strawberry 1 using the above electron beam. First, in the experiment shown in FIG. 4, the strawberry 1 is housed in three kinds of packages P having different thicknesses of the package P, and the strawberry 1 of each package P is irradiated with an electron beam having a different acceleration voltage, and then the strawberry 1 is kept. The number of long mildew strawberries 1 was calculated after the predetermined period. The package P is a polyethylene bag having a thickness of 40 μm, a single-package container made of biaxially stretched polystyrene having a thickness of 120 μm, and the above-mentioned package P shown in FIG. 3, wherein the bag and the individual packaging container are respectively Only one strawberry 1 is contained, and a plurality of the above-mentioned bags and individual packaging containers are prepared. Further, the individual packaging container is different from the packaging P of FIG. 3 described above, and the cover side protective film 14 or the tray side protective film 13 is not provided. As the package P shown in FIG. 3 described above, in the experiment, the tray portion 11 and the lid portion 12 were made of polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 345 μm, and the thickness of the tray side protective film 13 and the lid side protective film 14 were used. It is made of polyethylene of 5 μm. Therefore, the total thickness of the tray portion 11 and the tray side protective film 13, and the total thickness of the lid portion 12 and the lid side protective film 14 are each 350 μm.

Next, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 4 used in the present experiment is a so-called low-energy apparatus that can irradiate an electron beam with an acceleration voltage of at most 300 kV, and the acceleration voltages are set to 100 kV, 150 kV, and 300 kV, respectively, in the experiment, and the target dose is further set. The dose of the electron beam irradiated on each strawberry 1 was 5 kGy or 10 kGy. Further, an electron beam is irradiated onto the upper and lower sides of the above-mentioned three kinds of bags, individual packaging containers, and packages P to irradiate an electron beam on the entire circumference of the strawberry 1, and then the strawberry 1 irradiated with the electron beam is kept in the holder. In the state of the package P, after standing for 3 days and 6 days in a normal temperature environment (temperature: 24 ° C), it was confirmed whether or not each strawberry had a long mold.

First, in the case where the electron beam having an acceleration voltage of 100 kV is irradiated on the strawberry 1 accommodated in a polyethylene bag having a thickness of 40 μm at a target dose of 5 kGy, when three days, three of the ten strawberries 1 are long. Mildew, when the 6th, 5 out of 10 strawberries 1 is mildew. Similarly, in the case where the strawberry 1 is irradiated with an electron beam having an acceleration voltage of 100 kV and a target dose of 10 kGy, when three days have elapsed, two of the ten strawberries 1 are mildewed, and 10 days after the passage of 6 days. 5 strawberries 1 is mildew. Next, in the case of irradiating the strawberry 1 accommodated in the above-mentioned bag with an electron beam having an acceleration voltage of 150 kV, one of 10 (5 kGy) and one (10 kGy) of strawberry 1 are long when three days have elapsed. Mildew, when it passes 6 days, 1 out of 10 (5kGy) and 1 (10kGy) of strawberry 1 are mildew. Further, in the case where the strawberry 1 accommodated in the bag is irradiated with an electron beam having an acceleration voltage of 300 kV, even if the target dose is set to any of 5 kGy and 10 kGy, the strawberry is passed over 3 days and after 6 days. No long-term mildew was confirmed on the 1st. From the above results, it is understood that in the case of the strawberry 1 accommodated in the bag having a thickness of 40 μm, the strawberry 1 can be favorably stored even if it is irradiated with an electron beam of an acceleration voltage of 150 kV or more.

In the same manner as described above, the strawberry 1 accommodated in a biaxially stretched polystyrene individual packaging container having a thickness of 120 μm was irradiated with an electron beam having an acceleration voltage of 100 kV, 150 kV, and 300 kV at a dose of 5 kGy and 10 kGy, respectively. If the accelerating voltage is 100kV, 4 out of 10 (5kGy) and 3 (10kGy) of strawberry 1 will be mildewed on the 3rd, and 8 out of 10 (5kGy) and 8 (10kGy) strawberries will be passed on the 6th. 1 is mildew. If the accelerating voltage is 150kV, then 4 out of 10 (5kGy) and 3 (10kGy) of strawberry 1 will be mildew after 3 days, and 8 out of 10 (5kGy) and 8 (10kGy) strawberries will be passed on the 6th. 1 is mildew. Further, when the acceleration voltage was 300 kV, even if the target dose was set to any of 5 kGy and 10 kGy, no mold was observed on the strawberry 1 after 3 days and 6 days. From the above results, it can be understood that in the case of the strawberry 1 accommodated in the individual packaging container having a thickness of 120 μm, the strawberry 1 can be favorably stored even at 6 days when the electron beam is irradiated with an acceleration voltage of 300 kV.

Finally, an electron beam having an acceleration voltage of 100 kV, 150 kV, and 300 kV was irradiated onto the strawberry 1 contained in the package P having a thickness of 350 μm as shown in Fig. 3 at a dose of 5 kGy and 10 kGy, respectively. If the accelerating voltage is 100kV, then 4 out of 10 (5kGy) and 4 (10kGy) of strawberry 1 will be mildewed on the 3rd, and 8 (10kGy) and 8 (10kGy) strawberries will be made after 6th. 1 is mildew. If the accelerating voltage is 150kV, then 4 out of 10 (5kGy) and 4 (10kGy) of strawberry 1 will be mildew after 3 days, and 8 out of 10 (5kGy) and 8 (10kGy) strawberries will be passed on the 6th. 1 is mildew. Further, if the acceleration voltage was 300 kV, even if the target dose was set to any of 5 kGy and 10 kGy, no mold was observed on the strawberry 1 after 3 days and after 6 days. From the above results, it can be understood that in the case of the strawberry 1 accommodated in the container having a thickness of 350 μm, the strawberry 1 can be favorably stored even at 6 days when the electron beam is irradiated with an acceleration voltage of 300 kV.

Fig. 5 shows the result of the second experiment. In the second experiment, in the polyethylene container having the bottom depth, the plurality of strawberries 1 are accommodated up and down in a state of contacting two to three stages, and further on the opening of the container. A film made of polyethylene having a thickness of 10 μm was attached so as to cover the strawberry 1 described above, and then kept at room temperature for 7 days to measure the number of the strawberry 1 of the mold. In this experiment, for the sake of comparison, the electron beam is not irradiated, and the electron beam having an acceleration voltage of 250 kV is irradiated from the upper side of the above container at a target dose of 7 kGy by the above-mentioned film, as shown in the table. The number of strawberries was housed in a container having the above structure, and experiments were conducted. If the electron beam is irradiated on the container, since the strawberries 1 in the container are in contact with each other, the electron beam is not irradiated on the contact portion, and since the laminate is formed in a plurality of segments, if the electron beam is irradiated from above the container, the electron beam does not Irradiated on the strawberry on the lower side to become the back side. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the strawberry 1 which was not irradiated with the electron beam was subjected to 12 days out of 12, 8 out of 15 and 10 out of 16 strawberries on the 7th day, which was a total of 43 out of 43 ( 70%) Strawberry 1 is mildewed. On the other hand, even in the strawberry 1 which had irradiated the electron beam, it was confirmed that 8 of 16 of the 7th, 7 of the 16th, and 7 of the 15 of the 1st strawberry were grown on the 7th, and the total was 46. Twenty-two (48%) of the strawberries 1 were mildewed. Thus, it can be understood that if the strawberries 1 are accommodated in the package P while being in contact with each other, even if the electron beam is irradiated, it will be moldy on about half of the strawberries 1 and is not suitable for long-term storage.

In the sterilizing apparatus 2 of the second embodiment, the sterilizing apparatus 2 of the second embodiment is configured by the transporting apparatus 3 for transporting the package P and the electron beam irradiation apparatus 4 provided along the transporting apparatus 3, similarly to the sterilizing apparatus 2 of the first embodiment. The conveying apparatus 3 of the present embodiment is composed of an upstream conveyor 21 and a downstream conveyor 22 which are disposed on the upstream and downstream sides, and an inverting device 23 provided between the upstream conveyor 21 and the downstream conveyor 22. . The inverting device 23 is composed of a bucket 23a that can accommodate the package P and has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a rotating shaft 23b that swings the bucket 23a. The bucket 23a is provided so as to form one of the upstream conveyor 21 and the downstream conveyor 22 between the chain conveyors, and the rotating shaft 23b is conveyed to the upstream conveyor 21 and the downstream side. The direction in which the transport direction of the machine 22 is orthogonal is used as a center of rotation, and the bucket 23a is rocked 180o. According to this configuration, when the bucket 23a is rocked by the rotating shaft 23b, the opening portion can be placed in the storage state of the upstream conveyor 21, and the opening portion can be conveyed toward the downstream conveyor 22.

Further, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 4 of the present embodiment is constituted by a first electron beam irradiation apparatus 4A provided above the upstream side conveyor 21 and a second electron beam irradiation apparatus 4B provided above the downstream side conveyor 22. Both of them can illuminate the electron beam from the upper side of the package P conveyed by the conveying device 3.

According to the sterilizing apparatus 2 having the above configuration, the first package P is conveyed by the upstream conveyor 21 of the conveying apparatus 3 while the lid portion 12 faces upward. The package P passes through the first electron beam irradiation device 4A in the upstream conveyor 21, whereby the electron beam is irradiated from the side of the lid portion 12 of the package P, and the upper side of the strawberry 1 is sterilized. The package P of the first electron beam irradiation apparatus 4A is housed in the bucket 23a of the above-described reversing device 23 in the storage state in the downstream end of the upstream conveyor 21. Then, the rotation shaft 23b rotates the bucket 23a to the above-described conveyance state, whereby the front surface of the package P in the bucket 23a is reversed, and the tray portion 11 faces upward. When the bucket 23a is in the transport state, the package P is placed on the downstream conveyor 22, and is transported by the downstream conveyor 22 while the tray portion 11 is kept upward. Further, the package P passes through the second electron beam irradiation device 4B in the downstream conveyor 22, whereby the electron beam is irradiated from the tray portion 11 side of the package P to perform the portion on the lower side of the strawberry 1 to the point where it is located. Sterilization. As described above, even in the configuration of the second embodiment, the electron beam can be irradiated from the tray portion 11 side and the lid portion 12 side of the package P, and the entire circumference of the strawberry 1 can be irradiated with the electron beam as in the first embodiment.

In the sterilizing apparatus 2 of the third embodiment, the sterilizing apparatus 2 of the third embodiment is configured by the transporting apparatus 3 for transporting the package P and the electron beam illuminating apparatus 4 provided along the transporting apparatus 3, similarly to the sterilizing apparatus 2 of the first embodiment. The conveying device 3 of the present embodiment is provided by a belt conveyor 31 that conveys the package P, and an end portion adjacent to the belt conveyor 31 and that moves the package P to the lower side of the electron beam irradiation device 4. The transfer device 32 is constructed. The belt conveyor 31 can reciprocate the package P. Specifically, the package P that has not been sterilized by the electron beam is moved from the upstream side of the left side of the drawing to the downstream side of the right side of the figure, and then the package is attached. P is transferred to the above-described tumbling transfer device 32, and further, the tumbling transfer device 32 receives the package P whose electron beam sterilization has ended, and can be moved to the left of the figure from the right side of the figure.

The tumbling transfer device 32 is configured such that the hopper 33 holding the package P, the first rotating device 35 that rotates the arm portion 34 holding the hopper 33 in the horizontal direction, and the arm portion 34 are rotated to shake the hopper 33 The second rotating device 36 is configured. The bucket 33 is configured to support the three-side flange of the package P conveyed to the right end portion of the belt conveyor 31, and is constituted by a U-shaped member as shown in the drawing. The tray portion 11 and the lid portion 12 of the package P held by the bucket 33 are exposed on the lower side and the upper side, respectively, whereby the electron beam irradiation device 4 can be irradiated onto the upper side and the lower side of the inside strawberry 1.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the first and second rotating devices 35 and 36 of the tumbling transfer device 32, and is provided on the upper surface of the casing 37 provided adjacent to the belt conveyor 31. The first rotating device 35 is provided by a first rotating shaft 39 rotatably provided inside the tubular member 38 provided on the upper portion of the casing 37, and inside the casing 37 to drive the first rotating shaft 39. The first motor 40 is configured. The first rotating shaft 39 has a tubular shape, and a lower end portion thereof protrudes into an inner space of the casing 37, and a gear 39a is provided at a tip end thereof, and the gear 39a meshes with a gear 40a driven by the first motor 40. Further, an outer casing 39b is provided at an upper end portion of the first rotating shaft 39, and the outer casing 39b holds the arm portion 34 in the horizontal direction and holds the arm portion 34 in a rotatable state. When the first rotating shaft 39 is rotated by the driving of the first motor 40 through the gears 39a and 40a, the arm portion 34 is rocked in the horizontal direction together with the outer casing 39b, and the bucket 33 provided at the front end of the arm portion 34 is provided. The arc-shaped trajectory can be moved as shown in FIG. Specifically, the first rotating device 35 can hold the package P held by the bucket 33 as shown in FIG. 7 to a position beyond the belt conveyor 31 to exceed the electron beam irradiation device 4. Reciprocating within the range of position.

The second rotating device 36 is a second rotating shaft 41 that is rotatably provided inside the first rotating shaft 39, and a second motor 42 that is provided inside the casing 37 to drive the second rotating shaft 41. Composition. The second rotating shaft 41 protrudes upward and downward through the inside of the first rotating shaft 39, and the lower end directly connects the drive shaft of the second motor 42, and the upper end is provided with a helical gear 41a housed inside the outer casing 39b. . An end portion of the arm portion 34 that protrudes into the outer casing 39b is provided with a helical gear 34a that meshes with the helical gear 41a of the second rotating shaft 41, and is rotatable by the driving of the second motor 42. Further, according to the second rotating device 36, the bucket 33 can be rotated to the conveyance state in which the package P is received by the belt conveyor 31 with the lid portion 12 facing upward, and the arm portion 34 can be rotated as shown in FIG. The package P is rotated to invert the state in which the tray portion 11 faces upward.

The electron beam irradiation device 4 is disposed in the middle of the arcuate path of the package P moved by the tumbling transfer device 32 of the transfer device 3, and can illuminate the electron beam from the upper side of the package P passing therethrough.

The operation of the sterilizing apparatus 2 having the above-described configuration will be described. First, in the belt conveyor 31, the package P that has not been sterilized is conveyed to the left of the drawing by the left side of the drawing while the lid portion 12 is placed above. And stop at the transfer position on the right side of the illustration. At this time, the turning transfer device 32 moves the arm portion 34 to a position adjacent to the belt conveyor 31 by the first rotating device 35, and the bucket 33 is positioned by the second rotating device 36. The above-described transfer position whereby the bucket 33 is located on the belt conveyor 31. When the package P conveyed by the belt conveyor 31 is held by the bucket 33, the first rotating device 35 rotates the arm portion 34, whereby the package P held by the bucket 33 passes through the electron beam irradiation device 4. Below it, an electron beam is irradiated on the lid portion 12 of the package P to sterilize the upper side of the strawberry 1.

When the first rotating device 35 rotates the bucket 33 to a position beyond the electron beam irradiation device 4, the second rotating device 36 rotates the bucket 33 to be in a reversed state by the conveyance state, and the tray portion 11 of the package P becomes Heading upwards. Next, the first rotating device 35 rotates the bucket 33 in the opposite direction, whereby the package P passes again under the electron beam irradiation device 4, and the electron beam is irradiated on the tray portion 11 of the package P to the extent that the strawberry is reached. The portion on the lower side is sterilized. When the first rotating device 35 moves the bucket 33 to a position adjacent to the belt conveyor 31, the second rotating device 36 rotates the bucket 33 from the reversed state to the conveyed state, thereby causing the cover portion 12 to be rotated. The package P is transported to the transport position of the belt conveyor 31 in an upward state. Next, the belt conveyor 31 moves the package P with the lid portion 12 facing upward from the right side of the drawing to the left side of the drawing.

In the sterilizing apparatus 2 of the second and third embodiments, the electron beam is irradiated on the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the strawberry 1 accommodated in the package P, so that the electron beam can be irradiated onto the entire circumference of the strawberry 1 and In the same manner as described above, the preservation of the strawberry 1 for a long period of time can be performed. Further, in the above embodiment, although the strawberry 1 is contained as a fruit and vegetable, the same effect can be obtained by the fruit and vegetable which is easily injured other than the strawberry 1. Further, after the electron beam is irradiated onto the strawberry 1 accommodated in the package P by the sterilizing device 2, the lid portion 12 of the package P is temporarily opened in an aseptic environment, and then the sterile air is sprayed into the opened package P even if Ozone is generated by the irradiation of an electron beam, and it can also be excluded.

1‧‧‧ strawberries
1a‧‧‧Matto Department
1b‧‧‧Tibe
1c‧‧‧ fruit
2‧‧‧Breaker
3‧‧‧Transport equipment
4‧‧‧Electron beam irradiation equipment
4A‧‧‧1st electron beam irradiation equipment
4B‧‧‧2nd electron beam irradiation equipment
11‧‧‧Tray Department
12‧‧‧ 盖部
13‧‧‧Tray side protective film
13a‧‧‧Receiving Department
14‧‧‧ Cover side protective film
21‧‧‧Upstream conveyor
22‧‧‧ downstream conveyor
23‧‧‧Flipping equipment
23a‧‧‧ Fighting
23b‧‧‧Rotary axis
31‧‧‧belt conveyor
32‧‧‧Transfer transfer equipment
33‧‧‧ Fighting
34‧‧‧arms
34a‧‧‧ helical gear
35‧‧‧1st rotating equipment
36‧‧‧2nd rotating equipment
37‧‧‧Shell
38‧‧‧Cylinder members
39‧‧‧1st rotating shaft
39a‧‧‧ Gears
39b‧‧‧ Shell
40‧‧‧1st motor
40a‧‧‧ gear
41‧‧‧2nd rotation axis
41a‧‧‧ helical gear
42‧‧‧2nd motor
P‧‧‧Packaging

Fig. 1 is a structural view showing a sterilizing apparatus of a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a view showing a strawberry as a fruit and vegetable. Fig. 3 is a view showing a package, (a) showing a structural view, and (b) showing a plan view. Fig. 4 is a table showing the results of the first experiment. Fig. 5 is a table showing the results of the second experiment. Fig. 6 is a structural view showing a sterilizing apparatus of a second embodiment. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the sterilizing apparatus of the third embodiment. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a sterilizing apparatus of a third embodiment.

Claims (7)

A method for sterilizing fruits and vegetables by irradiating an electron beam to an outside of the package to irradiate the fruit and vegetables to perform sterilization of the fruit and vegetables, wherein the thickness of the package is 350 μm or less, and the electron beam is used. The accelerating voltage is set to 150 kV or more and 300 kV or less, and the electron beam is irradiated to the fruit and vegetables accommodated in the package by one side and the other side to irradiate the electron beam over the entire circumference of the fruit and vegetable. The method for sterilizing fruit vegetables according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein a plurality of accommodating portions are provided on the package, and the adjacent fruits and vegetables are separated by accommodating the fruits and vegetables in the accommodating portions. A method for sterilizing a fruit vegetable according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fruit is a strawberry. A fruit and vegetable sterilizing device comprising: a conveying device that conveys a package containing fruit vegetables; and an electron beam irradiation device that irradiates an electron beam on the package conveyed by the conveying device, wherein: the thickness of the package It is set to 350 μm or less, and the acceleration voltage of the electron beam is set to 150 kV or more and 300 kV or less. The electron beam irradiation apparatus irradiates the electron beam to one side and the other side of the fruit vegetables accommodated in the package. The sterilizing device for a fruit and vegetable according to the fourth aspect of the invention, wherein the package is provided with a plurality of accommodating portions, and the adjacent fruits and vegetables are separated by accommodating the fruits and vegetables in the accommodating portions. A sterilizing device for a fruit and vegetable according to the fourth or fifth aspect of the invention, wherein there is an inverting device for inverting the package, by which the package on one side of which has been irradiated with the electron beam by the electron beam irradiation device is turned over Thereafter, the electron beam is irradiated by the electron beam irradiation device on the other side of the package. A sterilizing device for a fruit and vegetable according to the fourth or fifth aspect of the patent application, wherein the fruit is a strawberry.