JP2007030911A - Apparatus for heat-treating container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for heat-treating a container which can reduce heating energy necessary for operation preparation and a set temperature change related to water in each water storing tank, can shorten its required time, and does not accompanied by a complicated water feeding operation. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus is equipped with a plurality of water storing tanks 4 for storing water with different temperatures for heat treatment, and an accumulating tank 17 communicating through a restricting means consisting of water sealing plates 18-20 or the like for restricting movement of the water. The water in the water storing tank 4 is scattered into the container 2 through a water scattering means 8, and the scattered water after use is recovered into the water storing tank 4 by a recovering means 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a container heat treatment apparatus that performs predetermined heat treatment by sprinkling water stored in a water storage tank in a container to be transported, and more particularly to improvement of the water storage tank.

In a past cooler, a pastoriser, and the like, a heat treatment technique is widely adopted in which a predetermined heat treatment is performed by sprinkling water at different temperatures on containers transported on a transport conveyor. In this type of container heat treatment technology, there are a wide range of container heat treatment devices that circulate and use a plurality of water storage tanks for water spraying at different processing temperatures below the transfer conveyor, while collecting water used for water spraying. Known (Patent Document 1, Cited Document 2). By the way, the recovery rate of the used water is lowered due to the reason that the water sprayed during the normal operation adheres to the transport conveyor and the container and moves, and the amount of water stored in the water storage tank is fluctuated. In this case, if the water storage capacity of the water storage tank is set large, the influence of fluctuations in the water storage amount will be mitigated. There has been a technical problem that the heating energy required for heating to a predetermined temperature when the set temperature is changed increases and the required time also increases. On the other hand, if the water storage capacity of the water storage tank is set to a small value, the heat capacity of the stored water is reduced, and the heating energy required for heating to a predetermined temperature when preparing for operation or changing the set temperature is reduced. Although there is an advantage that the required time is shortened, the influence of fluctuations in the water storage amount in the water storage tank during normal operation becomes large, and in order to compensate for this, frequent water replenishment work and an accurate control system are required. There was a technical problem that was needed.
JP 2004-24629 A JP-A-8-322528

  The present invention was developed in view of the above-described conventional technical situation, and reduces the heating energy related to water in each water storage tank that is required at the time of preparing for operation or changing the set temperature. An object of the present invention is to provide a container heat treatment apparatus that can shorten the required time and does not require frequent water supply operations.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the invention of claim 1, the water storage is carried out via a transfer means for transferring a container, a plurality of water storage tanks for storing water at different temperatures for heat treatment, and a restriction means for restricting the movement of water. An accumulator tank in communication with the tank, water sprinkling means for sprinkling the water in the water storage tank into the container, and recovery means for collecting the sprinkled water after use to the water storage tank, and water at different temperatures in the container. The technical means of spraying water and performing a predetermined heat treatment was adopted. The accumulation tank may communicate with a plurality of water storage tanks (Claim 2). The restricting means may be constituted by a water sealing plate (Claim 3), or may be constituted by a communication path that connects the water storage tank and the accumulation tank (Claim 4).

According to the present invention, since the accumulation tank is added via the restricting means for restricting the movement of water with respect to the water storage tank, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the shortage of water stored in the storage tank is always replenished from the accumulator tank via the limiting means, even if the water storage capacity of the water storage tank is set to a small value, there is little fluctuation in the water storage volume, It is possible to continue the predetermined heat treatment for the container without the need for replenishing water. As a result, it is also possible to omit water level control and makeup water control in the water storage tank.
(2) Since the water storage capacity of the water storage tank can be reduced, the heat capacity of the water stored in the tank can be reduced, so it is required for heating to a predetermined temperature when preparing for operation or changing the set temperature. The heating energy can be reduced, and the required time is also shortened.

  The present invention can be widely applied when predetermined heat treatment is performed by spraying water of different temperatures into a container. The water of different temperature here means, for example, 70 ° C., 80 ° C., 50 ° C., and 30 ° C. water arranged in order in the transport direction, and with appropriate additives added as necessary. But you can. Each water storage tank may be composed of a plurality of independent tanks, or may be one in which a large tank is partitioned to form a plurality of water storage units. As for the accumulation tank, the same number of accumulation tanks may be installed individually corresponding to each storage tank, or each accumulation tank is divided into several groups, and a common accumulation tank is provided for each group. You may make it install, and you may make it make one big accumulation tank respond | correspond to all the water storage tanks. As a restricting means for restricting the movement of water installed in the communication portion between the water storage tank and the accumulator tank, in addition to a state in which the water tank is submerged between a pair of water sealing plates extending above the water surface as in the embodiments described later. It is possible to use a water seal plate provided with a water seal plate, or to restrict the movement of water by the flow path resistance of the communication path. A partition plate having an appropriate number of throttle holes in the communication passage, a punching metal having a large number of holes, or a plurality of thin tubes may be installed. In short, due to the restriction action on the movement of water by the restriction means, sudden movement of water between the accumulation tank and the water storage tank can be avoided, and the fluctuation of the water storage amount in the water storage tank is absorbed within the practical range. What is necessary is just to allow movement of water to the extent obtained. Thereby, it is possible to omit the water level control and the makeup water control in the water storage tank, but it may be configured to be implemented.

  1 to 3 show the main part of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional main part configuration diagram, FIG. 2 is a plan main part configuration diagram, and FIG. 3 is a first water storage tank. It is a cross-sectional principal part block diagram cut in the part. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, while the containers 2 supplied via the supply conveyor 1 are conveyed by the conveyance conveyor 3, water of different temperatures stored in the respective water storage tanks 4 to 7, for example, 70 For example, each container 2 supplied at 20 ° C. is heated, sterilized, gradually cooled, by sprinkling water for treatment at a temperature of 80 ° C., 80 ° C., 50 ° C., 30 ° C. through the water spraying means 8-11 A configuration is adopted in which each heat treatment for cooling is performed, and the product is carried out from the discharge conveyor 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the water storage tanks 4 to 7 are disposed below the transport conveyor 3, and are used after being sprinkled by the tarai-shaped collection means 13 to 16 disposed above them. The water is collected and collected in each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7, and is used for circulation.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the present embodiment employs a configuration in which each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 communicates with an accumulation tank 17 having a single large capacity. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 and the accumulation tank 17 is partitioned into a state in which the movement of water is restricted and communicated by three water sealing plates 18 to 20. Among the water sealing plates 18 to 20, the water sealing plate 18 is provided in a state where the whole is submerged in a state where the lower end portion is in close contact with the tank bottom surface, and between the pair of water sealing plates 19 and 20 extending above the water surface. It is arranged. As a result, free movement of water between the accumulation tank 17 and each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 is restricted, temperature fluctuation of the water in each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 is suppressed, and in the circulation use of water, 2 and the fluctuation amount of the water storage amount in each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 caused by the cause such as being attached to the conveyor 3 and moving are automatically replenished from the accumulation tank 17. In addition, a water supply pipe 22 connected to a water supply source 21 is connected to each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 via a branch supply pipe provided with valves 23 to 26, and a steam supply source 27. The steam supply pipes 28 connected to each other are connected via branch supply pipes provided with valves 29 to 32, respectively. And feedback control based on the water temperature of each water storage tank 4-7 is performed with respect to those valves 23-26 and valves 29-32 using the temperature controllers 33-36, and water and water to each water storage tank 4-7 are controlled. By controlling the supply amount of the steam, the temperature of the water stored in each of the tanks 4 to 7 can be adjusted to the set temperature. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the pump 37 for water supply is arrange | positioned between each water storage tank 4-7 and each water sprinkling means 8-11.

  Thus, when the water stored in each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 is heated to a predetermined temperature at the time of preparation for operation or when the set temperature is changed, a small volume of water partitioned by the water sealing plates 18 to 20 is used. Therefore, the required heating energy, that is, the amount of steam supplied from the supply source 27 can be reduced, and the required time can be shortened. Moreover, since each water tank 4-7 is always replenished with water from the accumulation tank 17 through the water sealing means which consists of the three water sealing plates 18-20, in each water tank 4-7 at the time of normal driving | operation The fluctuations in the amount of stored water are automatically absorbed and are always maintained at a substantially predetermined stored amount without performing water level control or makeup water control. Under the water storage state of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 as described above, the water in the water storage tanks 4 to 7 is supplied to the watering means 8 to 11 through the pump 37 and is transported by the transport conveyor 3. By spraying water on the container 2, a predetermined heat treatment is performed.

  Incidentally, in the above embodiment, the case where one large-capacity accumulator tank 17 is associated with each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 is shown, but the accumulator tank 17 is divided into four small-capacity accumulator tanks, It is also possible to configure each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 individually.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the main part of the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the accumulation tank is composed of a hot water accumulation tank 38 and a cold water accumulation tank 39. Since the parts related to the hot water accumulator tank 38 and the cold water accumulator tank 39 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the common parts and the above description is used. As shown in the figure, the hot water accumulator tank 38 is adjacent to the water storage tanks 4 to 7, and the hot water flowing in from the water storage tanks 4 to 7 through the water sealing means comprising the water sealing plates 18 to 20 The water is heated to about 40 ° C., for example. The hot water in the hot water accumulator tank 38 is configured to be pumped to the cold water accumulator tank 39 via the heat exchanger 42 by a pump 41 installed in the circulation line 40, and passes through the heat exchanger 42 on the way. Sometimes, it is cooled to, for example, about 30 ° C. by heat radiation from the cooling tower 43 and then sent to the cold water accumulation tank 39. Then, the cold water that has flowed into the cold water accumulation tank 39 gradually flows into the hot water accumulation tank 38 through the water sealing means including the water sealing plates 44 and 45 and is circulated. According to the present embodiment, the average temperature difference between the water stored in each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 and the water stored in the adjacent hot water accumulator tank 38 is reduced. It is possible to suppress the thermal change when replenishing to -7. Moreover, the cold water stored in the cold water accumulation tank 39 can be used as a cold heat source for cooling the water in the water storage tank 6, for example, used in the cooling processing zone as described later.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a main part of the first water storage tank 4 taken along the section. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, an in-line heater 47 is installed in the middle of a water supply pipe 46 for supplying water from the water storage tank 4 to the watering means 8, and the temperature controller 48 determines the downstream water temperature. The valve 49 is configured to perform feedback control and control the amount of steam supplied from the steam supply source 50 so that the temperature of the water supplied to the sprinkling means 8 can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature. . Incidentally, you may make it employ | adopt the same structure also for the water supply pipe line from the 2nd water storage tank 5 to the water sprinkling means 9. FIG. For the in-line heater 47, other heat sources can be used. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the main part of the third water storage tank 6. As shown in the figure, a water supply pipe 51 for supplying water from the water storage tank 6 to the water spray means 10 is connected to a cold water supply pipe 52 connected to a cold water accumulation tank 39 in front of the pump 37, and downstream by a temperature controller 53. The temperature of the water supplied to the watering means 10 can be adjusted to a predetermined temperature by performing feedback control on the valve 54 based on the temperature of the water on the side and controlling the amount of cold water flowing from the cold water supply pipe 52. It is configured as follows. Incidentally, you may make it employ | adopt the same structure also for the water supply pipe line from the 4th water storage tank 7 to the water sprinkling means 11. FIG.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the temperature adjustment of the water in the water storage tanks 4 to 7 at the time of operation preparation is performed on the valves 23 to 26 and the valves 29 to 32 as in the case of the first embodiment. Feedback control based on the water temperature of each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 is executed using the controllers 33 to 36, and the amount of water and steam supplied to each of the water storage tanks 4 to 7 is controlled. During normal operation, the amount of steam supplied to the in-line heater 47 installed in the middle of the water supply line 46 is controlled through feedback control for the valve 49 by the temperature controller 48 or connected to the water supply line 51. The temperature of water supplied to the sprinkling means 8 and 10 is adjusted to a predetermined temperature by controlling the inflow amount of the chilled water from the chilled water supply pipe 52 through feedback control on the valve 54 by the temperature controller 53. It will be. Incidentally, regarding the adjustment of the temperature of the water supplied to the sprinkling means 9 and 12, the same method may be used, or the temperature adjusting means at the time of preparation for operation described above may be used.

  FIGS. 7 and 8 show the main part of the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the main part, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional main part taken along the first water storage tank 4. FIG. As shown in the figure, in the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the components common to the first embodiment, and the restriction placed between the water storage tanks 4 to 7 and the accumulation tank 17 will be described. The communication paths 55 to 58 are employed as means, and the other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. That is, in this embodiment, instead of the water movement restriction means including the water sealing plates 18 to 20 in the first embodiment, a restriction means based on the flow path resistance of the communication passages 55 to 58 is adopted. In operation, it performs the same function. In addition, the magnitude | size of the water storage capacity | capacitance of the accumulator tank 17 can be changed as needed, and can also be divided into a hot water accumulator tank and a cold water accumulator tank as in the second embodiment.

It is the longitudinal section principal part lineblock diagram which showed the principal part of 1st Example of this invention. It is the plane principal part block diagram which showed the principal part of the Example. It is the cross-sectional principal part block diagram cut in the part of the 1st water storage tank of the Example. It is a plane principal part block diagram which showed the principal part of 2nd Example of this invention. It is the cross-sectional principal part block diagram cut in the part of the 1st water storage tank of the Example. It is the cross-sectional principal part block diagram cut in the part of the 3rd water storage tank of the Example. It is the longitudinal cross-section principal part block diagram which showed the principal part of 3rd Example of this invention. It is the cross-sectional principal part block diagram cut in the part of the 1st water storage tank of the Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Supply conveyor, 2 ... Container, 3 ... Conveyor, 4-7 ... Water storage tank, 8-11 ... Sprinkling means, 12 ... Discharge conveyor, 13-16 ... Recovery means, 17 ... Accumulation tank, 18-20 ... Water Seal plate, 21 ... Water supply source, 22 ... Water supply pipe, 23-26 ... Valve, 27 ... Steam supply source, 28 ... Steam supply pipe, 29-32 ... Valve, 33-36 ... Temperature controller, 37 ... Pump, 38 ... Hot water accumulation tank, 39 ... Cold water accumulation tank, 40 ... Circulation line, 41 ... Pump, 42 ... Heat exchanger, 43 ... Cooling tower, 44, 45 ... Water seal plate, 46 ... Water supply line, 47 Inline heater, 48 ... Temperature controller, 49 ... Valve, 50 ... Steam supply source, 51 ... Water supply pipe, 52 ... Cold water supply pipe, 53 ... Temperature controller, 54 ... Valve, 55-58 ... Communication path

Claims (4)

  A transport means for transporting the container; a plurality of water tanks for storing water at different temperatures for heat treatment; an accumulator tank communicated with the water tank via a restricting means for restricting the movement of water; and Water spraying means for spraying water into the container and recovery means for recovering the water after use to the water storage tank are provided, and the container is configured to spray water at different temperatures to perform predetermined heat treatment. A container heat treatment apparatus.   The container heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accumulation tank communicates with a plurality of water storage tanks.   The container heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the limiting means is a water sealing plate. 3. The container heat treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restricting unit includes a communication passage communicating the water storage tank and the accumulation tank.

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