CN1313035C - Solid sterilizing method and sterilizer thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A sterilization method that can process solid objects continuously in a certain amount. A plurality of pressure vessels (3) are sequentially moved from a certain input part (12) to an output part (13) in the aseptic zone (Z1); in the input part (12), a certain amount of solid matter (10) is stored The containers (8) are inserted into each pressure vessel (3) in a certain number and each pressure vessel (3) is closed respectively; each pressure vessel (3) moving from the input part (12) to the output part (13) inside, carry out the process for sterilizing the solid matter (10); open each pressure vessel (3) in the outlet (13) and take out the container (8) and the solid matter ( 10); return the empty pressure vessel (3) from the output unit (13) to the input unit (12).

Description

Solid object sterilization method and sterilization device

technical field

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sterilizing solid matter contained in processed food contained in a container by directly contacting a heating medium such as steam.

Background technique

Conventionally, as a method of sterilizing processed food, an indirect heat sterilization method in which processed food is packaged and sealed, and the bag is placed in a retort to sterilize the contents by high-temperature heating has been used. However, in the method of indirect sterilization by bag, since both the liquid component and the solid are heated under the same condition and are sterilized according to the heat transfer of the liquid component to the center of the solid gradually, there is a variation in the sterilization time. Long, solid and liquid components are overheated to change the flavor and other issues.

Therefore, various direct heat sterilization methods in which solid objects are directly sterilized by contacting them with steam have been proposed and implemented. In the sterilization of solids by direct heat sterilization, the solids are metered into individual small quantitative portions and the divided solids are filled in cups prior to sterilization. Put each cup in the same autoclave (pressure vessel). After the autoclave is sealed, the inside of the autoclave is evacuated, and then steam is introduced into the autoclave. After steam heating for a certain period of time, vacuum cooling was performed, after which each cup was removed from each autoclave. According to this direct heat sterilization method, since the solid matter is directly contacted with the steam, the sterilization conditions suitable for the solid matter can be set, and the heat treatment can be completed in a short time without destroying the flavor of the solid matter. The measurement and distribution of each packaging unit volume is done before sterilization, so it has the advantage of being easy to set suitable conditions for each food compared with the measurement and distribution of solids after sterilization.

However, the conventional direct heat sterilization methods are all batch processes in which a large number of cups are packed in the same sterilizer and processed at one time. Therefore, in order to increase the processing capacity, it is necessary to enlarge the size of the sterilizer, so that the installation area of the device also becomes large. After the sterilization process, since a large number of cups must be taken out at one time, and the operation must be carried out under aseptic conditions, it is necessary to ensure that there is a large aseptic storage area on the outlet side of the sterilizer and the equipment must be further scaled. change. After a large number of sterilized cups are taken out from the autoclave at one time and placed in the aseptic storage area, when the solid matter is taken out from each cup in turn and sent to the post-processing process, the retention of the solid matter in each cup in the aseptic storage area The time varies considerably before and after treatment. Aseptic storage area, because sterile air is continuously injected and positive pressure is maintained, the longer the solid is kept in it, the greater the quality difference will be.

In order to correct the disadvantages, for example, in the sterilizing device disclosed in Patent No. 2907763, by arranging a plurality of sterilizers side by side and selectively putting a box containing a certain number of cups into each sterilizer, Batch processing with multiple sterilizers side by side and continuous removal of solids. However, the outlet sides of multiple sterilizers must all be placed in aseptic storage, which still needs to be large.

In Japanese Patent No. 2815089, it is proposed to prepare a sterilization treatment tank separated among a plurality of treatment chambers in each process, and carry out the sterilization process with a single treatment tank by sequentially transporting cups containing solid matter to each treatment chamber. Device for continuous sterilization. However, it is difficult to hermetically separate the inside of a single processing tank from multiple processing chambers, and it is difficult to transport the cups inside the processing tank because the inside of the processing tank is exposed to a vacuum and high temperature environment. Therefore, even in the apparatus of this publication, the processing tank itself is rocked in a seesaw shape and the cups are conveyed, but it is difficult to actually use such a mechanism as a practical problem.

Contents of the invention

The present invention is made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization method and a sterilization apparatus capable of quantitatively and continuously treating solid matter with a structure different from conventional ones.

The sterilization method and sterilization apparatus of the present invention will be described below. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the reference signs of the drawings are put in parentheses, and thus the present invention is not limited to the examples in the drawings.

The sterilization method of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of pressure vessels 3 are sequentially moved from a certain input part 12 to an output part 13 in the sterile zone Z1; Containers 8 are inserted into each pressure vessel in a certain number and seal the pressure vessel respectively; inside each pressure vessel moving from the input part to the output part, the treatment for sterilizing the solid matter is carried out; Each pressure vessel is opened in the output part and the container and solid matter are taken out from the pressure container, and then the empty pressure vessel is returned from the output part to the input part.

According to this sterilization method, since the pressure vessels are sterilized while transporting them sequentially, the number of containers contained in the pressure vessels can be limited to, for example, several, and by increasing the limited number of pressure vessels, even The sterilization process in each pressure vessel itself is a batch process, and as a whole, a small amount of solid matter can be sterilized sequentially and can be processed continuously. In the output section, the sterilized pressure vessels can be sent in order, and there is no need to process a large number of containers at one time in the output section. As a result, large sterile storage areas are also not necessary. Furthermore, by miniaturizing each of the pressure vessels, they can be easily transported. In addition, there is no need for a transport container inside the pressure vessel, so the device can be simplified.

In the sterilization method of the present invention, an outer sterilizing zone Z2 is defined in front of the aseptic zone, and the pressure vessel introduced into this outer sterilizing zone is preferably subjected to external sterilizing treatment. As a result, the outside of the pressure vessel is sterilized before being brought into the sterile area. Therefore, the part from the input part to the outside sterilization area does not need to be placed in an aseptic treatment environment. Furthermore, when the negative pressure is maintained in the external sterilization area, since the sterile area is maintained at a positive pressure, the atmosphere in the external sterilization area has no effect on the sterile area, and the external sterilization area acts as a link between the sterile area and the external environment. It plays a role in the buffer area between them, so as to further ensure the sterility of the sterile area.

In the sterilization method of the present invention, solids are typically mixed with liquid components to form processed foods, but various other solids can also be sterilized by the method of the present invention. The container for accommodating solid objects can be in various shapes such as a cup shape and a tray shape. The product container itself may be used as a container, or a dedicated container for sterilization may be used.

In the sterilization method of the present invention, the treatment for sterilizing the solid may include vacuum degassing the inside of the pressure vessel, introducing steam into the pressure vessel to pressurize and heat the inside of the pressure vessel, making the inside of the pressure vessel The internal vacuum degassing of the vapor pressure vessel thereby cooling the solids is handled. However, additional treatment, modification, or removal may be appropriately performed depending on the solid matter.

The sterilizing device of the present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a plurality of pressure vessels 3 that accommodate a certain number of containers 8 containing a certain amount of solid matter 10 and can be sealed separately, and that the pressure vessels 3 are placed in a certain input part 12. The conveying mechanism 2 that circulates between the output unit 13 in the sterile zone Z1, and the connecting devices 25, 26 for connecting the plurality of pressure vessels to the accessory equipment 27, 28 for sterilization treatment, respectively.

According to the present invention, the pressure vessels are circulated through the conveying mechanism. In the input part, a certain number of containers are installed in each pressure vessel and each pressure vessel is sealed. For the pressure vessels facing the output part from the input part, it is implemented through the connection device. Sterilization is performed to sterilize solid objects. In the output unit, the sterilization method of the present invention can be implemented by opening each pressure vessel and taking out the container and the solid objects.

In the sterilizing device of the present invention, an outer sterilization zone Z2 is defined in front of the sterile zone, and for this outer sterilization zone, a sterilizer that can supply a sterilant and be in contact with the outside of the pressure vessel can be further provided. Bacteria agent supply device 30,31. At this time, since the outside of the pressure vessel is sterilized before it is taken into the sterile area, it is not necessary to set the part between the input part and the external sterile area in an aseptic environment, and the installation and operation of the device are also simplified. easy. When setting the pressure regulating device 33 that keeps the negative pressure in the outside sterilization area, the outside sterilization area plays a role as a buffer zone between the sterile area and the external environment, thereby further ensuring the sanitation of the sterile area. bacteria.

In the sterilizing device of the present invention, each pressure container includes a main body 5 for accommodating the container and a cover 6 for closing the main body, and the cover can be integrated with the tray 7 supporting the container. At this time, a certain number of containers are installed in the tray, and the storage of the containers and the sealing of the pressure vessel can be completed only by inserting them into the main body. When removing the container, it is also only necessary to remove the cover from the main body and then directly remove the tray. Therefore, it is possible to perform output and input operations well only by hand. In addition, the integration mentioned here may include an integrated structure in which the cover and the tray can be integrally attached to and detached from the main body, or may include a structure in which the cover and the tray are assembled and integrated after being separately manufactured when the cover and the tray are not integrated.

In the sterilizing device of the present invention, the circulation path of each pressure vessel may be set in a circular shape. At this time, with respect to the center C of the circulation path, each pressure vessel can always be moved while maintaining a certain distance. Therefore, when the accessory equipment and each pressure vessel are connected by connecting devices such as pipes or hoses, the pipes and hoses can be rotated relatively easily by passing through the center of the circulation path.

The sterilizer of the present invention may be further equipped with a vacuum device 27 and a steam supply device 28 as the accessory equipment. At this time, for the pressure vessel being transported, vacuum degassing treatment, steam pressure heating treatment, cooling treatment by vacuum degassing, etc. can be performed to sterilize the solid matter directly by heat sterilization. However, the accessory devices are not limited to these, and other devices may be added and replaced with other devices.

Other sterilization methods of the present invention are characterized in that a plurality of containers 8 containing a certain amount of solid objects 10 are respectively closed by a cover member 40, and the inside of each container is closed by a connecting device 41 provided on the cover member. A treatment for sterilizing the solid matter is performed.

According to this method, since a plurality of containers are individually sterilized, it is not necessary to prepare a large pressure container. Since the sterilized containers can be put into the sterile area separately and sealed, there is no need to prepare a large sterile storage area.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the sterilizer of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a pressure vessel used in the sterilizer of Fig. 1 and a cup accommodated therein.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the process of opening the cover of the main body of the pressure vessel.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a closed structure of a sterile room.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a closed structure of the external sterilization chamber.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing another sterilizing device of the present invention.

In the figure, 1: sterilization device, 2: conveying mechanism, 3: pressure vessel, 4: turntable, 5: main body, 6: cover, 7: tray, 8: cup (container), 10: solid object, 11: Circulation path, 12: input part, 13: output part, 17: sterile room, 18: external sterilization room, 25, 26: utility pipe (connection device), 27: vacuuming device, 28: steam supply device, 30 : nozzle (sterilizing agent supply device), 31: sterilizing agent supply device, 40: cap, 41: tube, Z1: sterile area, Z2: external sterilization area.

Detailed ways

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a sterilizing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sterilization device 1 of this embodiment is provided with a conveying mechanism 2 and a plurality of pressure containers 3 . . . 3 conveyed by the conveying mechanism 2 . The conveying mechanism 2 may be provided with, for example, a circular turntable 4 and a driving device (not shown) for rotating the turntable 4 around the center C. The driving device can be intermittently driven at various certain angles.

As shown in FIGS. 2( a ) and 2 ( b ), the pressure vessel 3 is provided with a main body 5 and a cover 6 closing the main body 5 . In addition, Fig. 2(a) is a longitudinal section showing the pressure vessel 3, and Fig. 2(b) is a side view seen from the lid side. An integrated tray 7 is attached to the cover 6 . A certain number, for example, four cups 8 . . . 8 can be mounted side by side on the tray 7 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the lid 6 and the tray 7 can be attached and detached integrally with the main body with the cup 8 mounted on the tray 7 . In addition, the cover 6 and the tray 7 may be integrally formed, or may be separately combined. In order to ensure the airtightness between the cover 6 and the main body 5, appropriate gaskets 9 may be provided on the opposite parts of the two. As shown in FIG. 2( c ), the cup 8 is a cylindrical shape with an open upper end, and can hold solid objects 10 divided into a certain amount inside it. The cover 6 can be separated from the tray 7 . A cover 6 can be attached to the main body 5 so that it can be opened and closed.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the main body 5 is installed on the outer periphery of the turntable 4 at regular intervals. Therefore, the pressure vessel 3 is conveyed along the circular circulation path 11 with the rotation of the turntable 4 . On the circulation path 11, an input 12 and an output 13 of cups 8 are provided. The solids are sequentially supplied to the input part 12 through the input pipeline 15 of the cup 8 containing the solids 10 . The output unit 13 is connected with an output pipeline 16 through an aseptic filling machine (not shown in the figure). The output unit 13 is installed inside the same aseptic chamber 17 as the aseptic filling machine. In addition, regarding the rotation direction of the turntable 4 , an external sterilization chamber 18 is provided in front of the sterile chamber 17 . Part of the turntable 4 enters the sterile zone Z1 inside these chambers 17 , 18 and the outer sterile zone Z2 .

FIG. 4 shows the pressure vessel 3 and the turntable 4 inside the sterile room 17 . A flange 4b is provided on the entire outer periphery of the lower surface 4a of the turntable 4 . A liquid reservoir 17a into which the flange 4b enters is provided in the sterile chamber 17, and a sterilizing agent 19 is stored in the liquid reservoir 17a. In the section entering the sterile chamber 17 , the flange 4 b of the turntable 4 is immersed in the sterilizing agent 19 .

In addition, on the turntable 4, a vertical wall 20 offset further to the inner peripheral side than the pressure vessel is provided. The longitudinal wall 20 also extends over the entire circumference of the turntable 4 . The vertical wall 20 is higher than the pressure vessel, and a liquid storage part 21 spanning the entire periphery is provided at the upper end thereof. The sterilizing agent 19 is also stored in the reservoir 21 . A flange 17 b immersed in the sterilizing agent 19 of the liquid reservoir 21 is provided in the sterile chamber 17 . With this arrangement, the aseptic zone Z1 in the aseptic chamber 17 is hermetically sealed from the outside in the up and down of the turntable 4 . In addition, in the actual operation of the sterilizer 1, the sterile air supply device supplies sterile air inside the sterile chamber 17 at all times, so that the sterile zone Z1 can maintain a positive pressure at all times.

As shown in FIG. 4 , utility pipes 25 and 26 as connection means are attached to the main body 5 of each pressure vessel 3 . These utility pipes 25 , 26 lead out through the longitudinal wall 20 on the inner peripheral side of the turntable 4 . As a part of the example shown in FIG. 1 , the pipes 25 and 26 extend to the vicinity of the rotation center C of the turntable 4 and are respectively connected to a vacuum device 27 and a steam supply device 28 through a rotary valve (not shown) provided there. The connecting device can be configured by providing rigid piping.

FIG. 5 shows the pressure vessel 3 and the turntable 4 inside the external sterilization chamber 18. In the outer sterilization chamber 18, the nozzles 30 30 for spraying the sterilizing agent are set relative to the inner outer sterilization zone Z2 thereof. The nozzle 30 is connected to a sterilizing agent supply device 31 shown in FIG. 1 . The sterilizing agent supply device 31 can supply the spray 32 of hydrogen peroxide to the nozzles 30 and spray it from the nozzles 30 , for example. In addition, the spray mentioned here refers to a collection of fine liquid droplets obtained by spraying hydrogen peroxide water in a high-temperature atmosphere above its boiling point and vaporizing it all at once, and condensing the vaporized hydrogen peroxide component. Such a spray can obtain a satisfactory sterilization effect with a small amount and complete drying quickly, so as shown in this device 1, it is particularly effective as a device that completes sterilization in the process of continuous processing. . In addition, as shown in FIG. 5 , in the external sterilization chamber 18 , the same liquid reservoir 18 a and flange 18 b as those in the sterile sterilization chamber 17 of FIG. 4 are provided, and the external sterilization zone Z2 is sealed from the outside. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1 , the external sterilization chamber 18 is connected with the pressure regulating device 33 , and in the actual operation of the device 1 , the external sterilization zone Z2 can maintain a very small negative pressure (pressure lower than the external pressure).

As mentioned above, since the sterile zone Z1 in the sterile room 17 and the external sterilization zone Z2 in the external sterilization zone 18 are configured, the turntable 4 can rotate without contacting the outside in the output unit 13 .

The sterilizing sequence of the solid object 10 according to the sterilizing device 1 will be described below. During the sterilization process in the sterilizer 1 , the turntable 4 is intermittently rotated at constant intervals in units of the parallel pitch of the pressure vessels 3 . In the input unit 12 , the cups 8 filled with solid matter supplied from the input line 15 are loaded in the tray 7 . Every time four cups 8 are loaded on the tray 7 , the tray 7 and the cover 6 are attached to the main body 5 of the empty pressure vessel 3 delivered to the input unit 12 to seal the pressure vessel 3 .

When the sealed pressure vessel 3 starts to move toward the output unit 13 , the air in the pressure vessel 3 is vacuum degassed in the vacuum device 27 through the tube 25 . The pressure vessel 3 completes vacuum degassing while moving in a certain interval. Steam is introduced from a steam supply device 28 through a pipe 26 into the pressure vessel 3 after vacuum degassing. As a result, the inside of the pressure vessel 3 is pressurized and heated, and the steam comes into contact with the solid matter 10 in the cup 8 to sterilize it. The pressure vessel 3 maintains the pressurized state of the vapor while moving in a certain movement section. Thereafter, the pressure vessel 3 is vacuum-degassed using the vacuum device 27 . Thus, the solid matter is cooled. During the cooling process, the pressure vessel 3 is moved into the outer sterilization zone Z2, and the outer surface of the pressure vessel 3 is sterilized together with the cooling of the solid matter.

When the pressure vessel 3 moves further into the sterile zone Z1 , the vacuum degassing ends, and in the output 13 , the lid 6 and the tray 7 are extracted from the main body 5 and the cup 8 is moved onto the output line 16 . In addition, after the vacuum degassing is completed, sterile air is introduced into the pressure container 3, and the pressure in the container 3 can be returned to normal pressure before the lid 6 is opened. After the cup 8 is taken out, the empty pressure container 3 is sent back from the output unit 13 to the input unit 12 along with the movement of the turntable 4, and is supplied to the next sterilization process.

By sequentially operating the above processes in the pressure vessel 3 , the sterilized solid matter can be supplied substantially continuously in the output unit 13 . As a result, high-efficiency sterilization can be performed. Since there is no need to process a large number of cups 8 in the output unit 13 at one time, there is no need to set a large aseptic storage area, and the output unit 13 can be easily accommodated in the aseptic room 17 . The cups 8 taken out from the pressure vessel 3 are conveyed to the aseptic filling machine side successively, so the solid matter 10 in the cups 8 will not dry for a long time in sterile air.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be implemented in various embodiments. For example, the conveying mechanism is not limited to the example of circulating the cups along a circular conveying path (circular path), but may be a reciprocating linear path, or other various shapes of circulating paths. In the external sterilization of the pressure vessel, various sterilizing agents can be used, not limited to spraying. Instead of offsetting the vertical wall provided on the turntable from the pressure vessel, the vertical wall may be provided on the shell portion of the pressure vessel. The liquid reservoir on the upper side in the sterile room and the outer sterile room may be provided on a fixed side of the ceiling of the room. The input and output of the cups in the input and output can be automated, for example, by robots. The container is not limited to the cup 8 and can be in various shapes. The cup 8 can be a container for products containing solid matter, and a container specially used for sterilization can also be used. In addition, a discharge valve for discharging liquid components generated by condensation of vapor or the like may be provided in the pressure vessel 3 .

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment. In this example, the cup 8 is closed by the lid 40, and these cups 8 and the lid 40 function as a pressure vessel. A tube 41 as connecting means is connected to the lid 40, and the inside of the cup 8 is connected to the vacuum device 27 and the steam supply device 28 through the tube. In addition, the cup 8 can be loaded on the turntable 4 etc. like the example in FIG. 1, and can be conveyed.

As described above, according to the sterilizing method and sterilizing apparatus of the present invention, since the pressure vessel can be sterilized while being transported, the solid matter can be sterilized bit by bit sequentially and continuous treatment can be realized. In the output part, the pressure containers after the sterilization process can be transported sequentially, and there is no need to process a large number of containers at one time in the output part. Therefore, a large sterile storage area is also not required. Furthermore, it can be easily transported by downsizing each pressure vessel. Also, there is no need to transport the container inside the pressure vessel. Therefore, the device can also be simplified and beneficial to practical use.

Claims (12)

1. the sterilizing methods of a solid is characterized in that, a plurality of pressure vessels (3) are moved by the efferent (13) of certain input part (12) in aseptic area (Z1) successively; In described input part, make the appearance tool (8) of accommodating a certain amount of solid (10) insert each pressure vessel and seal this pressure vessel respectively with certain number; Inside at each pressure vessel that is moved to described efferent by described input part is used for the processing that the solid pressurized, heated is sterilized; In described efferent, open each pressure vessel and from pressure vessel, take out appearance tool and solid; Make empty pressure vessel by described efferent to described input part foldback.

2. sterilizing methods according to claim 1 is characterized in that, in the front of described aseptic area zoning sterilization zone, outside (Z2), carries out the outside sterilization treatment for the pressure vessel of introducing this sterilization zone, outside.

3. sterilizing methods according to claim 2 is characterized in that, makes in the sterilization zone, described outside to keep negative pressure.

4. according to each described sterilizing methods in the claim 1～3, it is characterized in that described pressurized, heated sterilization treatment comprises the processing that makes the described pressure vessel inner vacuum degassing handle, introduce described steam and this pressure vessel inside is carried out the processing of pressurized, heated and made the pressure vessel pressure inside reduction that imports described steam in described pressure vessel.

5. sterilizing methods according to claim 4, it is characterized in that, as the processing that described pressure is reduced, thereby comprise the processing that makes the pressure vessel inner vacuum degassing cooling solid that imports described steam and after vacuum outgas finishes, make pressure in the pressure vessel be back to the processing of normal pressure.

6. the bactericidal unit of a solid, it is characterized in that, be provided with appearance tool (8) of accommodating a certain amount of solid of being equipped with of certain number (10) and a plurality of pressure vessels (3) that can seal respectively, make between the efferent (13) of described a plurality of pressure vessel in certain input part (12) and aseptic area (Z1) circulation conveying mechanism (2), be used for jockey (25,26) that described a plurality of pressure vessels are connected with attendant equipment (27,28) that sterilization treatment is used respectively.

7. bactericidal unit according to claim 6, it is characterized in that, in the front of described aseptic area zoning sterilization zone, outside (Z2),, the bactericidal agent feedway (30,31) that can contact with the outside of described pressure vessel of supplying with bactericidal agent is set for this sterilization zone, outside.

8. bactericidal unit according to claim 7 is characterized in that, is provided with to make the pressure regulation device (33) that keeps negative pressure in the sterilization zone, described outside.

9. bactericidal unit according to claim 6 is characterized in that, each pressure vessel comprises main body (5) of accommodating described appearance tool and the lid (6) that seals this main body, is set to one at the described pallet (7) that covers and support described appearance tool.

10. bactericidal unit according to claim 6 is characterized in that, the circulating path of each pressure vessel is circular.

11. according to each described bactericidal unit in the claim 6～10, it is characterized in that,, further be provided with vacuum extractor (27) and steam feedway (28) as described attaching device.

12. the sterilizing methods of a solid, it is characterized in that, seal a plurality of appearance tools (8) of accommodating a certain amount of solid (10) respectively by cover (40), be used for processing in each inside that holds tool described solid sterilization by being arranged at jockey (41) on the described cover.

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