US20100233334A1 - Method for manufacturing a packaged food product - Google Patents

Method for manufacturing a packaged food product Download PDF

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Publication number
US20100233334A1
US20100233334A1 US11/996,668 US99666805A US2010233334A1 US 20100233334 A1 US20100233334 A1 US 20100233334A1 US 99666805 A US99666805 A US 99666805A US 2010233334 A1 US2010233334 A1 US 2010233334A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
food product
packaged food
container
steam
manufacturing
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Abandoned
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US11/996,668
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English (en)
Inventor
Akira Yamazaki
Yoshimi Ohtaki
Tadao Kosaka
Akihiko Sasagawa
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Echigo Seika Co Ltd
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Echigo Seika Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Echigo Seika Co Ltd filed Critical Echigo Seika Co Ltd
Assigned to ECHIGOSEIKA CO., LTD. reassignment ECHIGOSEIKA CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KOSAKA, TADAO, OHTAKI, YOSHIMI, SASAGAWA, AKIHIKO, YAMAZAKI, AKIRA
Publication of US20100233334A1 publication Critical patent/US20100233334A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
    • A23L3/10—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating materials in packages which are not progressively transported through the apparatus
    • A23L3/12—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by heating materials in packages which are not progressively transported through the apparatus with packages in intercommunicating chambers through which the heating medium is circulated
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
    • A23B9/00—Preservation of edible seeds, e.g. cereals
    • A23B9/02—Preserving by heating
    • A23B9/025—Preserving by heating with use of gases
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
    • A23B9/00—Preservation of edible seeds, e.g. cereals
    • A23B9/14—Coating with a protective layer; Compositions or apparatus therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
    • A23B9/00—Preservation of edible seeds, e.g. cereals
    • A23B9/16—Preserving with chemicals
    • A23B9/18—Preserving with chemicals in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L3/00—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
    • A23L3/34—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with chemicals
    • A23L3/3409—Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs by treatment with chemicals in the form of gases, e.g. fumigation; Compositions or apparatus therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/12—Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/14—Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging by heat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/12—Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/18—Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging by liquids or gases

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing package-sealed rice, for example, or another packaged food product.
  • Package-sealed rice and other packaged food products are created by a process in which a single serving of rice is placed in a container and heat treated (fully cooked or half-cooked), and the container is sealed by a film.
  • sealing the container holding the food product in advance using a film is extremely effective for preventing contamination of the container by microorganisms and the like during the transition to the next step, and preventing water and the like from spilling into the container.
  • Patent Document 1 Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-32965
  • Patent Document 1 after the container that holds the food product is sealed by a film, an escape hole is formed by a hole-opening tool from above the film.
  • the hole-opening tool pushes the film downward when the hole is formed, there is a risk of water spilling into the container, or of the hole-opening tool falling into the container.
  • a heating press is generally used when such a container holding the food product is heated to 100° C. or higher to kill microorganisms and cook the product.
  • a safety valve is mounted to the heating press, and the safety valve opens to release excess steam when a prescribed pressure is reached.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an innovative method for manufacturing a packaged food product that is capable of performing heat treatment without uneven quality, and without spillage of water into the container or dropping of the hole-opening tool into the container during manufacturing.
  • a first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a packaged food product, wherein the method is characterized in comprising placing a food product 1 in a container 2 , sealing the container 2 holding the food product 1 using a primary film 4 having a communicating hole 3 to obtain a packaged food product A, placing the packaged food product A inside a heating vessel 7 provided with a steam inflow part 5 and a steam discharge part 6 , and causing steam to flow into the heating vessel 7 from the steam inflow part 5 ; and fixing a secondary film 8 so as to cover the communicating hole 3 from above the primary film 4 after heat-treating the packaged food product A while discharging the steam from the steam discharge part 6 .
  • a second aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the first aspect, characterized in that a heating temperature inside the heating vessel 7 is controlled by adjusting an inflow quantity of steam from the steam inflow part 5 during the heat treatment.
  • a third aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the first aspect, characterized in that the packaged food product A covered by a cover body 9 is placed in the heating vessel 7 , steam is allowed to flow in from the steam inflow part 5 towards the cover body 9 , and heat treatment is performed.
  • a fourth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the second aspect, characterized in that the packaged food product A covered by a cover body 9 is placed in the heating vessel 7 , steam is allowed to flow in from the steam inflow part 5 towards the cover body 9 , and heat treatment is performed.
  • a fifth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to any of the third and fourth aspects, characterized in that the packaged food product A is covered by the cover body 9 having an sloped roof 9 A.
  • a sixth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to any of the first through fourth aspects, characterized in that a U-shaped, V-shaped, or X-shaped cut 3 is formed in the primary film 4 , and the cut 3 is used as the communicating hole 3 .
  • a seventh aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the fifth aspect, characterized in that a U-shaped, V-shaped, or X-shaped cut 3 is formed in the primary film 4 , and the cut 3 is used as the communicating hole 3 .
  • An eighth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the sixth aspect, characterized in that at the same time as the cut 3 is formed in the primary film 4 by a cutting tool in the communicating hole 3 , an upward edge 3 A of the cut 3 is oriented upward, or the edge 3 A of the cut 3 is oriented upward after the cut 3 is formed.
  • a ninth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the seventh aspect, characterized in that at the same time as the cut is formed in the primary film 4 by a cutting tool in the communicating hole 3 , an edge 3 A of the cut 3 is oriented upward, or the edge 3 A of the cut 3 is oriented upward after the cut 3 is formed.
  • a tenth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to any of the first through fourth aspects, characterized in that a food product 1 subjected to high-pressure treatment at 1000 atmospheres or higher is placed in a container 2 , the container 2 holding the food product 1 is sealed by a primary film 4 that has a communicating hole 3 , and a packaged food product A is obtained.
  • An eleventh aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the fifth aspect, characterized in that a food product 1 subjected to high-pressure treatment at 1000 atmospheres or higher is placed in a container 2 , the container 2 holding the food product 1 is sealed by a primary film 4 that has a communicating hole 3 , and a packaged food product A is obtained.
  • a twelfth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the sixth aspect, characterized in that a food product 1 subjected to high-pressure treatment at 1000 atmospheres or higher is placed in a container 2 , the container 2 holding the food product 1 is sealed by a primary film 4 that has a communicating hole 3 , and a packaged food product A is obtained.
  • a thirteenth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the seventh aspect, characterized in that a food product 1 subjected to high-pressure treatment at 1000 atmospheres or higher is placed in a container 2 , the container 2 holding the food product 1 is sealed by a primary film 4 that has a communicating hole 3 , and a packaged food product A is obtained.
  • a fourteenth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the eighth aspect, characterized in that a food product 1 subjected to high-pressure treatment at 1000 atmospheres or higher is placed in a container 2 , the container 2 holding the food product 1 is sealed by a primary film 4 that has a communicating hole 3 , and a packaged food product A is obtained.
  • a fifteenth aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing a packaged food product according to the ninth aspect, characterized in that a food product 1 subjected to high-pressure treatment at 1000 atmospheres or higher is placed in a container 2 , the container 2 holding the food product 1 is sealed by a primary film 4 that has a communicating hole 3 , and a packaged food product A is obtained.
  • the present invention as described above is an extremely practical, innovative method for manufacturing a packaged food product whereby a container holding the food product is sealed by a primary film in which a communicating hole is formed in advance, and water inside the container therefore does not spill due to downward pushing of the film by the hole-opening tool, and the hole-opening tool does not drop into the container, as in the conventional technique.
  • the operating speed of the conveyor device in the manufacturing line can therefore be increased, and enhanced production efficiency can be anticipated.
  • Heat treatment is not performed using an existing hot press provided with a safety valve, but a heating vessel provided with a steam inflow part and a steam discharge part is instead used in the present invention, and the packaged food product is heat treated while the steam is discharged from the steam discharge part at the same time as the steam is caused to flow into the heating vessel from the steam inflow part. Steam therefore flows satisfactorily in the heating vessel, temperature differences do not easily occur, and a substantially uniform temperature is maintained in all regions, whereby each packaged food product is heat-treated at a substantially uniform temperature even when large quantities of packaged food products are accommodated in the heating vessel and heat-treated. Products that are free of uneven quality (uneven heating) can therefore be manufactured in large quantities.
  • the second aspect of the present invention provides an even more practical method for manufacturing a packaged food product, wherein the heat treatment temperature can easily be adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of steam into the heating vessel, the inside of the heating vessel can be pressurized to normal pressure or higher by adjusting the flow rate of steam, and heat treatment can be performed at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, the same as in an existing hot press.
  • the third and fourth aspects of the present invention provide an even more practical method for manufacturing a packaged food product, wherein the packaged food product is covered by a cover body, the steam is caused to flow towards the cover body, and heat treatment is performed. Moisture (drainage) that occurs during heat treatment therefore easily adheres to the cover body, and the drainage adhering to the cover body runs off along the cover body. It is therefore difficult for the drainage to penetrate into the container from the communicating hole of the primary film.
  • the fifth aspect of the present invention provides an even more practical method for manufacturing a packaged food product, wherein the packaged food product is covered by a cover body having a sloped roof. It is therefore even more difficult for drainage to adhere to the primary cover of the packaged food product, and the drainage slope of the sloped roof is also set so that drainage adhering to the internal surface of the sloped roof is conducted down the internal surface, whereby a structure can easily be designed and implemented for reliably preventing drainage that adheres to the internal surface of the sloped roof from falling onto the primary cover. It is therefore even more difficult for the drainage to penetrate into the container from the communicating hole of the primary film.
  • a cut is formed in which the edge of the cut remains, and the cut is used as a communicating hole, rather than forming a round or square through-hole in the primary film. Since the presence of the edge of the cut ensures that the communicating hole is not always opened wide, it is difficult for moisture (drainage) adhering on the primary film to penetrate from the communicating hole, and the communicating hole can be obtained merely by forming a simple cut. A method for manufacturing a packaged food product can therefore be obtained that provides ease of manufacturing and even greater practicality.
  • the eighth and ninth aspects of the present invention provide an even more practical method for manufacturing a packaged food product, wherein the edge of the cut is oriented upward, and moisture (drainage) that occurs on the primary film during heat treatment is therefore blocked from penetrating into the cut by the upward-oriented edge. It is therefore difficult for drainage to penetrate into the container from the cut (communicating hole).
  • the tenth through fifteenth aspects of the present invention provide an even more practical method for manufacturing a packaged food product, wherein a good-tasting starch food product is obtained in which the degree of gelatinization is enhanced by high-pressure treatment at 1000 atmospheres or higher in a case in which the food product includes starch, for example, and a larger quantity of food products can be processed in a single high-pressure treatment than by the technique according to Patent Document 1.
  • Such effects as enhanced production efficiency are therefore obtained.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the packaged food product of the present example
  • FIG. 2 is a front view and a side view showing a state in which the packaged food product of the present example is accommodated in the cover body;
  • FIG. 3 is a front view showing the heat treatment of the present example
  • FIG. 4 is a front view and a side view showing a state in which the secondary film is sealed on the packaged food product of the present example.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the completed state of the packaged food product of the present example.
  • a food product 1 is placed in a container 2 , the container 2 holding the food product 1 is sealed by a primary film 4 in which a communicating hole 3 is provided, and a packaged food product A is obtained.
  • the container 2 holding the food product 1 is sealed by the primary film 4 in which the communicating hole 3 is formed in advance. There is therefore no spillage of water into the container, or dropping of the hole-opening tool into the container due to downward pressure on the film by the hole-opening tool.
  • the container In a common manufacturing line for this type of packaged food product A, the container is moved to the next step by a belt conveyor or other conveyor device, but the inside of the container is sometimes contaminated at this time by dust, debris, airborne bacteria, and the like in the manufacturing line, and water inside the container can be spilled by recoil of the conveyor device.
  • Such measures as reducing the operating speed must be taken to prevent spillage.
  • dust and the like can be prevented from penetrating into the container 2 by using the primary film 4 to seal the container 2 , as in the present invention, and water and the like inside the container 2 does not spill even when the operating speed of the conveyor device is increased. Production efficiency can therefore be enhanced.
  • the packaged food product A is placed inside a heating vessel 7 provided with a steam inflow part 5 and a steam discharge part 6 , steam is caused to flow into the heating vessel 7 from the steam inflow part 5 , the packaged food product A is heat treated while the steam is discharged from the steam discharge part 6 , and the food product 1 inside the container 2 is cooked or semi-cooked (a state in which cooking is completed by the consumer heating the product in a microwave oven or the like).
  • the packaged food product A is heat treated in the present invention while the steam is continuously discharged from the steam discharge part 6 as the steam flows into the heating vessel from the steam inflow part 5 .
  • Steam therefore flows satisfactorily in the heating vessel 7 , whereby temperature differences do not easily occur inside the heating vessel 1 (* 1 ) even at the start of heating, and a substantially uniform temperature is maintained in all regions inside the heating vessel 7 . Consequently, each packaged food product A is heat-treated at a substantially uniform temperature even when large quantities of packaged food products A are accommodated in the heating vessel 7 and heat-treated. Products that are free of uneven quality (uneven heating) can therefore be manufactured in large quantities.
  • the heating temperature inside the heating vessel 7 can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of steam from the steam inflow part 5 .
  • the heating temperature is determined according to the manner in which a pressure (spindle weight, spring, or screw as the safety valve) at which a safety valve operates is set. Therefore, the weight, spring, or screw must be separately adjusted according to the cooking application/purpose in order to modify the operation of the safety valve.
  • the pressure inside the heating vessel 7 increases the more the flow rate of steam is increased using a device for forcing the inflow of steam, for example, and heat treatment can be performed at a high temperature.
  • the flow rate of steam may be reduced in the case of low-temperature heating, and this temperature adjustment can be easily performed.
  • the heating vessel 7 may also, of course, be pressurized to normal pressure or higher by adjusting the flow rate of steam, heat treatment can be performed at a temperature of 100° C. or higher, the same as in an existing hot press, and it is possible to adapt to various cooking applications/purposes.
  • the packaged food product A is covered by a cover body 9 , for example, and the flow of steam is directed towards the cover body 9 to perform the heat treatment.
  • the drainage thereby adheres to the cover body 9 and is less likely to adhere to the packaged food product A, and it is therefore difficult for the moisture to penetrate into the container 2 .
  • the packaged food product A is also covered by the cover body 9 having a sloped roof 9 A, for example. It is therefore even more difficult for drainage to adhere to the primary cover 4 of the packaged food product A, and the drainage slope of the sloped roof 9 A is also set so that drainage adhering to the internal surface of the sloped roof 9 A is conducted down the internal surface, whereby a structure can easily be designed and implemented for reliably preventing drainage that adheres to the internal surface of the sloped roof 9 A from falling onto the primary cover 4 . It is therefore even more difficult for the drainage to penetrate into the container 2 from the communicating hole 3 of the primary film 4 .
  • moisture can be prevented from penetrating into the container 2 from the communicating hole 3 even by forming a U-shaped, V-shaped, or X-shaped cut 3 in the primary film 4 and using the cut 3 as the communicating hole 3 , and orienting the edge 3 A upward in the cut 3 as the communicating hole 3 .
  • the product is finished by sealing a secondary film 8 so as to cover the communicating hole 3 from above the primary film 4 .
  • the inside of the container 2 be gas-exchanged, or that an deoxidant be sealed together with the product to enhance shelf life.
  • the communicating hole 3 can be utilized as a gas introduction/discharge hole at this time, gas exchange can easily be performed, and when an deoxidant is used, the deoxidant can be prevented from being mistakenly eaten by sealing the deoxidant between the primary film 4 and the secondary film 8 .
  • a good-tasting starch food product having an enhanced degree of gelatinization is obtained by a process in which a food product 1 that is high-pressure-treated at 1000 atmospheres or higher in advance is placed in a container 2 , the container 2 holding the food product 1 is sealed using a primary film 4 in which a communicating hole 3 is formed, and the packaged food product A is obtained, whereby the pressure history of the high-pressure treatment remains in the food product 1 , and the aforementioned heat treatment is then performed (for a detailed description, see Japanese Patent No. 3420521 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 2000-152756).
  • the present example is of a case in which the present invention is applied to a method for manufacturing package-sealed rice (packaged food product A) that can be heated in a microwave oven or other cooking device, in which water and uncooked rice (hereinafter referred to as uncooked rice 1 ) as the food product 1 are placed in an open-top shallow container 2 , and a film is sealed to form a hermetic seal on the entire peripheral edge part of the open top, of the container 2 .
  • the container 2 holding the uncooked rice 1 and an appropriate quantity of water is sealed by the primary film 4 in which the communicating hole 3 is provided, and the packaged food product A is obtained.
  • the “appropriate quantity” of water is a quantity of water whereby such handling problems as water improperly flowing out of the container 2 do not occur when the consumer opens the packaged food product A, and whereby a space is formed for the uncooked rice 1 to absorb the water and expand during cooking inside the container 2 , and the uncooked rice 3 (* 2 ) is satisfactorily steamed.
  • the communicating hole 3 is formed in advance in the primary film 4 .
  • a U-shaped cut 3 is formed in two locations in the primary film 4 , and each of the cuts 3 is a communicating hole 3 .
  • the cuts 3 as communicating holes 3 are cut and formed in the present example by the upward movement of a cutting tool from below the primary film 4 , the edges 3 A of the cuts 3 are simultaneously oriented upward so that the edges 3 A do not descend below the primary film 4 .
  • the edges 3 A are oriented upward so that moisture (drainage) that condenses when heat exchange between the packaged food product A and the steam is performed during the heat treatment described hereinafter does not penetrate into the container 2 from the communicating holes 3 when the drainage adheres to the packaged food product A.
  • a configuration is adopted in which the path of flow is changed so that drops of water flowing on the primary film 4 bypass the communicating holes 3 by coming in contact with the upward-oriented edges 3 A that are provided so as to block the cuts 3 , and it is difficult for the water drops to penetrate into the container 2 from the communicating holes 3 .
  • the communicating holes 3 may also be formed by forming V-shaped or X-shaped cuts 3 in the primary film 4 .
  • Communicating holes 3 having another shape may also be formed, but the communicating holes 3 are preferably configured so as to have edges 3 A for blocking the communicating holes 3 and inhibiting the entry of moisture through the communicating holes 3 , and not as round or square holes that are always open.
  • the upward creasing of the edges 3 A may be performed after the cuts are formed, and not necessarily at the same time as the cuts 3 are formed.
  • the edges 3 A of the cuts 3 may also be oriented upward after the cuts 3 are cut and formed by downward movement of the cutting tool from above the primary film 4 .
  • the packaged food product A is then placed in a heating vessel 7 provided with a steam inflow part 5 and a steam discharge part 6 , and the packaged food product A is heat-treated while steam at a pressure of 1.0 atmosphere (absolute pressure) or higher is caused to flow into the heating vessel 7 from the steam inflow part 5 , and the steam is discharged from the steam discharge part 6 .
  • the heating vessel 7 of the present example is configured so as to have thermal insulation properties as well as pressure resistance that enables a prescribed steam pressure to be maintained, and is provided with a deck 7 A inside at the bottom for mounting the packaged food product A.
  • the heating vessel 7 and the deck 7 A are preferably composed of stainless steel, for example, so as to have corrosion resistance.
  • the steam inflow part 5 is provided at the lower part of the heating vessel 7
  • the steam discharge part 6 is provided at the upper part of the heating vessel 7 .
  • the positions of the steam inflow part 5 and the steam discharge part 6 in relation to the heating vessel 7 are not limited by the present example.
  • a configuration is adopted in the present example in which the pressure inside the heating vessel 7 is maintained at normal pressure or higher, and heat treatment can be performed at a temperature of 100° C. or higher.
  • the diameter of the steam inflow vent of the steam inflow part 5 is set so as to be larger than the steam discharge vent of the steam discharge part 6 , and the inside of the heating vessel 7 can be maintained at normal pressure or higher according to the difference (the inflow quantity of steam is greater than the discharge quantity) between the inflow quantity and the discharge quantity of steam as a result of the difference in vent diameters.
  • a temperature sensor (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the steam discharge part 6 , and the temperature of heating inside the heating vessel 7 can be controlled according to the cooking application/purpose by adjusting the inflow quantity of steam from the steam inflow part 5 .
  • the packaged food product A is covered by the cover body 9 , and the flow of steam is directed towards the cover body 9 from the steam inflow part 5 to perform heat treatment.
  • the cover body 9 has an elongated cylindrical case shape, and is configured so that a plurality of packaged food product A can be slid into the cover body 9 from the side, and heat treatment can be performed in a state in which multiple columns of cover bodies 9 are stacked in multiple levels on the deck 7 A inside the heating vessel 7 .
  • the cover body 9 is also made of a metal having good thermal conductivity, for example, and is configured so that the packaged food product A is satisfactorily heated via the cover body 9 .
  • the cylindrical cover body 9 is formed so that the lower part from the middle is box-shaped in cross-section, and the upper part from the middle is wide at the bottom and shaped like a gabled roof (sloped roof 9 A) in cross-section, and the cover body 9 is configured so that a collar part 2 A on the periphery of the container 2 can be mounted and accommodated on a step portion 9 B that occurs due to the difference in the width of the middle part of the cover body 9 .
  • the slope of the sloped roof 9 A is set so that moisture adhering to the internal surface of the sloped roof 9 A does not fall vertically, but flows down along the internal surface of the sloped roof 9 A.
  • a configuration is adopted in which condensed moisture (drainage) adheres to the cover body 9 when the steam flowing in towards the cover body 9 from the steam inflow part 5 exchanges heat with the cover body 9 , but the set slope prevents the drainage from falling onto the primary film 4 and flowing in from the communicating hole 3 even when drainage adheres to the internal surface of the sloped roof 9 A.
  • a value of tan ⁇ equal to 1 (45°) or higher is not preferred, because the space inside the sloped roof 9 A is too wide, and the storage (placement) efficiency of the cover body 9 in the heating vessel 7 decreases.
  • the heat treatment can be more specifically described as pre-cooking for obtaining the manufactured product.
  • Two types of cooking are selected for this pre-cooking, in which the product is pre-cooked (steamed) rice that is reheated in a household microwave oven or the like, or the product is semi-cooked rice that is heated and steamed in a household microwave oven or the like.
  • the food product 1 uncooked rice 1
  • the food product 1 is cooked to completion (steaming) by the heat treatment
  • the food product 1 is cooked to semi-completion by the heat treatment.
  • this heat treatment can be performed at a temperature of 100° C. or higher by adjusting the inflow quantity of steam from the steam inflow part 5 , the heat treatment can be used for various cooking purposes, sterilization purposes, and the like.
  • the inside of the heating vessel 7 can be set to and maintained (held) at a constant pressure, pressure is applied to the food product 1 (uncooked rice 1 in the present example) equally from all directions, at which time the steam as the heat source is transmitted to the food product 1 equally from all directions, and the food product 1 is therefore uniformly heated without unevenness.
  • the moisture in the food product 1 does not boil under pressure, the moisture in the food product 1 does not evaporate, and advantages are gained in that the food product 1 (food) can be heat treated with no change in the moisture content or weight thereof, and the aroma component in the food product 1 is also made less likely to evaporate by the application of outside pressure.
  • a secondary film 8 is sealed over the primary film 4 so as to cover the communicating hole 3 .
  • a film having substantially the same shape as the primary film 4 is used as the secondary film 8 , and the entire peripheral edge part of the back surface (lower surface) of the secondary film 8 is sealed to the entire peripheral edge part of the external surface (upper surface) of the primary film 4 .
  • the air inside the container 2 is gas-exchanged, or a deoxidant (not shown) is sealed inside to enhance shelf life.
  • the gas exchange can be performed using the communicating hole 3 .
  • communicating holes 3 are provided in two locations of the primary film 4 in the present example, gas exchange can be performed efficiently by introducing gas to the container 2 from one of the communicating holes 3 while discharging the air inside the container 2 from the other communicating hole 3 .
  • the deoxidant When a deoxidant is sealed inside, the deoxidant can be sealed in the gap between the external surface of the primary film 4 of the back surface (internal surface) of the secondary film 8 . Specifically, the gap between the two films 4 , 8 is communicated with the inside of the container 2 via the communicating holes 3 , the deoxidizing effects can act via the communicating holes 3 , and the deoxidant 6 (* 3 ) can be sealed in the gap without the use of an adhesive.
  • the strength of the seal between the secondary film 8 and the primary film 4 can be set so that the primary film 4 also peels off of the container 2 together with the secondary film 8 when the secondary film 8 is peeled from the container 2 (when the upper opening part of the container 2 is opened).
  • the present invention is not limited by the present example, and the specific configuration of the constituent elements may be designed as appropriate.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Nutrition Science (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
  • Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)
US11/996,668 2005-07-25 2005-12-20 Method for manufacturing a packaged food product Abandoned US20100233334A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2005-214657 2005-07-25
JP2005214657A JP4607695B2 (ja) 2005-07-25 2005-07-25 容器封入食品の製造方法
PCT/JP2005/023381 WO2007013193A1 (ja) 2005-07-25 2005-12-20 容器封入食品の製造方法

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100233334A1 true US20100233334A1 (en) 2010-09-16

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US11/996,668 Abandoned US20100233334A1 (en) 2005-07-25 2005-12-20 Method for manufacturing a packaged food product

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US20100233334A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP4607695B2 (ja)
KR (1) KR101006638B1 (ja)
CN (1) CN101227839B (ja)
WO (1) WO2007013193A1 (ja)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3680192A4 (en) * 2017-09-22 2020-11-11 Hisaka Works, Ltd. PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A PACKAGED FOOD

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4434214B2 (ja) 2007-02-08 2010-03-17 株式会社デンソー バッテリ状態検知装置
US8679419B2 (en) * 2008-06-09 2014-03-25 Becton Dickinson France Sterile packing and sterilization method using this packing
JP5627233B2 (ja) * 2009-12-28 2014-11-19 テーブルマーク株式会社 無菌包装食品の製造方法
JP5639027B2 (ja) * 2011-10-03 2014-12-10 株式会社日阪製作所 食品の包装方法
JP6203340B1 (ja) * 2016-07-26 2017-09-27 フジフーズ株式会社 食品包装容器の二重シール密封方法および食品包装容器
WO2021117865A1 (ja) * 2019-12-11 2021-06-17 株式会社クラレ 殺菌処理用の包装容器

Citations (1)

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US4522015A (en) * 1980-12-31 1985-06-11 Campbell Soup Company Phased aseptic sterilization and packaging process and system

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JPS62128786U (ja) * 1986-02-05 1987-08-14
JPH0817684B2 (ja) * 1987-04-10 1996-02-28 キユーピー株式会社 保存食品の製造法
JP2000032965A (ja) * 1998-07-18 2000-02-02 Echigo Seika Co Ltd 容器封入食品の殺菌処理方法
JP3881782B2 (ja) * 1998-07-18 2007-02-14 越後製菓株式会社 容器封入食品の殺菌処理方法
JP4029024B2 (ja) * 2002-10-22 2008-01-09 株式会社ミツカングループ本社 固形具材入り食品の製造方法

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4522015A (en) * 1980-12-31 1985-06-11 Campbell Soup Company Phased aseptic sterilization and packaging process and system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3680192A4 (en) * 2017-09-22 2020-11-11 Hisaka Works, Ltd. PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A PACKAGED FOOD

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2007013193A1 (ja) 2007-02-01
CN101227839A (zh) 2008-07-23
CN101227839B (zh) 2011-11-02
JP2007028949A (ja) 2007-02-08
JP4607695B2 (ja) 2011-01-05
KR101006638B1 (ko) 2011-01-10
KR20080031043A (ko) 2008-04-07

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