JP4289529B2 - Filling the pouch with spout - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for filling contents into a pressure heat sterilization pouch equipped with a spout, and more particularly to a method for cleaning a spout in a filling step.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, boiled or pressure heat sterilized pouched foods called boil sterilization or retort sterilization are sold. Recently, a spout has been attached to the pouch to make it easier to drink by putting a mouth on the spout, and it is not necessary to pour out the entire amount at once by attaching a reclose cap or to drink the entire amount. However, pouches with spouts that can be resealed are now on sale.
The pouch with a spout is filled with juice, soup, jelly-like food, liquid food, seasoning and the like as contents.
When filling contents into such a pouch with a spout, the inner nozzle is usually attached to the top of the spout after filling a predetermined amount of the contents by closely contacting the filling nozzle from the spout with a dedicated filling and packaging machine. Heat sealing is performed and a reclose cap is attached. However, if an inner seal is applied in a state where foreign matter such as contents adheres to the mouth heat seal surface of the spout, it becomes a foreign matter seal and causes poor sealing.
Therefore, in the filling step, after the filling nozzle is pulled up, compressed air or water is sprayed onto the spout to remove the contents attached to the periphery of the spout.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there are cases where the deposits cannot be completely removed only by conventional air or water spraying or jetting. If there is any deposit on the peripheral edge of the spout, it may cause poor adhesion with the inner seal, and if there is a remaining deposit on the outer wall of the spout, the remaining deposit may decay during product storage. .
An object of the present invention is to fill a pouch with a spout for filling and wrapping the contents to be sterilized by boil or pressure and heat sterilization. Is to provide a way to do.
[0004]
[Means for solving the problems]
The present invention is a superheater in which the temperature in the injection nozzle is 110 to 150 ° C. with respect to the spout before filling and sealing the contents from the spout of the pressure heat sterilization pouch having the spout. Vapor is jetted and washed at an angle of 10 to 45 ° with respect to the top surface of the spout at a flow rate of 30 to 300 m / sec for 1 to 3 seconds, and then the spout is sealed. It is a filling method of the contents to the pouch with a spout. The sealing of the spout may be performed by heat sealing an inner seal to the spout.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0006]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing injection of superheated steam (hereinafter referred to as superheated steam V) to a spout of a pouch with a spout. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a state in which superheated steam is injected onto the top surface of the spout, (a) a front view at the time of steam injection, (b) an enlarged view of the Y part, and (c) moving the spout It is a top view in the case of injecting steam, (d) it is the front view. FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the structure of the pouch with a spout, where FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing each member separately, and FIG. 3B is a view showing a state in which the contents are filled and sealed. FIG. 4 is a front view including a partial cross-section illustrating another method of sealing. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the material of the inner seal material used in the method for filling contents into the pouch with a spout according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the material of the pouch used in the method for filling contents into the pouch with a spout according to the present invention.
[0007]
First, an example of a pouch with a spout used in the method for filling contents into a pouch with a spout according to the present invention will be described. A pouch with a spout has a spout attached to the top or upper side of the pouch as a container body.
As for the form of the pouch, both sides of two rectangular front and rear films 5 having the same size are heat-sealed with elongated side films 6 folded inward, and the lower edges of the front and rear films 5 are heat-sealed. The bottom is formed, the spout 2 is inserted into the upper edge of the front and rear film 5, and the upper edge of the front and rear film 5 is thermally bonded integrally with the inner cylindrical portion 22 of the spout 2 to form the contents. A so-called gusset-type pouch that is shaped like a box when filled is desirable.
In addition to the above gusset type pouches, a bottom film folded in two is inserted into the lower sides of the two front and rear films, both sides of the front and rear films are heat sealed as they are, and the spout body is inserted into the center on the upper side. The inner cylindrical portion and the inner surface of the film may be bonded by heat bonding, and the lower side may be a standing type pouch that is heat-sealed through the bottom film.
[0008]
Next, the shape of the spout will be described. As an example of the shape of the spout to be joined by thermal bonding or the like when the container body is a pouch, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 (a), on the one side of the elongated first flange portion 24, The inner cylinder part 22 attached to the inside of the pouch body is composed of an outer cylinder part 23 outside the pouch when the pouch is mounted on the other side, and the inner seal can be hermetically sealed on the top surface of the outer cylinder part 23. A flat top surface portion 21 is formed, and a screw 27 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion so that the cap 4 can be reclosed with the spout 2. In the example of FIG. 3A, the inner cylinder portion is provided with the blocking prevention rib 28. However, as shown in FIG. 3C, the blocking prevention rib 28 may not be provided.
[0009]
Further, the inner seal 3 in the case of sealing the container by tightly sealing to the spout is punched out slightly larger than the outer ruled line of the outer cylindrical portion 23 of the spout 2 at the stage of supplying to the spout. Heat sealing is performed with the top opening covered, moving to the next position, the heat sealing part is cooled and pressurized, and the sealing is completed. The inner seal may be bent so that the outside of the heat seal portion covers a part of the outer cylindrical portion of the spout.
[0010]
In sealing after filling the contents into the container with a spout, the filling nozzle is closely attached to the spout opening, and after filling a predetermined amount of the contents, the filling nozzle is pulled up to open the inner seal material in the sealing process. As shown in FIG. 3B, the contact ring 29 provided on the top inner surface of the cap 4 is tightened with the cap, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to achieve a sealed state by contacting 21.
[0011]
Further, in the present invention, the inner seal in the case of sealing the pouch with the spout by sealing tightly to the opening of the spout is punched slightly larger than the spout and heat-sealed to the opening flange. .
[0012]
In the mouth cleaning method for a pouch with a spout according to the present invention, when an inner seal is used, the inner seal is made of, for example, a surface layer, aluminum, or an easy peel resin as shown in FIG. Is. The surface layer can be formed by applying a coating agent having good heat resistance, moldability, friction resistance, and the like by a method such as coating, drying, and baking. Examples of the coating agent include acrylic resins, epoxy resins, polyester resins, melamine resins, unsaturated carboxylic acid grafted polyolefin resin solutions, dispersions, and the like. As the surface layer, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), a film 41 'may be laminated on the surface of aluminum, and a film having good heat resistance, moldability, friction resistance, etc., polyester, nylon Etc. can be used.
The thickness of aluminum is preferably in the range of 10 to 200 μm, and more preferably 20 to 100 μm. If the thickness of the aluminum is less than 10 μm, the molded part of the inner seal is weak, and there is a risk that the process will become unstable due to deformation during movement from the supply part to the seal part. Moreover, even if the thickness of aluminum exceeds 200 μm, it does not improve the inner seal material as an inner seal material, and the cost increases.
The easy-peeling resin layer that is the innermost layer is preferably made of multilayer PP, modified PP, EVA, or the like.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 (c), a specific method for cleaning the mouth of the container with a spout according to the present invention is provided obliquely above the top surface 21 of the spout 2 being moved. The superheated steam V may be injected from the fixed injection nozzle N. A plurality of the injection nozzles may be provided, or the spout top surface 21 may be cleaned by injecting steam V with the mobile injection nozzle N with the spout after filling in a fixed state.
The shape of the outlet of the superheated steam V of the injection nozzle N is desirably flat in cross section.
[0014]
As a result of diligent research on the injection of superheated steam V in the method for cleaning the mouth of a pouch with a spout according to the present invention, it has been found that the following conditions show desirable effects. As shown in FIG.2 (b), the range of 10-45 degrees is suitable for the injection angle (theta) of the superheated steam to the top | upper surface of a spout. In terms of cleaning, it is effective at 0 to 45 °, but if the spray angle is less than 10 °, the contents may be spilled due to the suction effect.
The slit width of the steam blowing nozzle is in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 mm in order to increase the flow rate as much as possible to enhance the cleaning effect and at the same time suppress the amount of steam used. The width of the nozzle itself should be longer by 1 to 2 mm on each side than the diameter of the opening of the spout. The superheated steam is set to 110 to 150 ° C. in a pressurized state in the nozzle, and becomes 100 ° C. or lower because it becomes atmospheric pressure when ejected from the nozzle. The higher the flow rate of the superheated steam ejected from the nozzle, the higher the cleaning effect can be expected, but 30 to 300 m / sec is appropriate.
[0015]
In addition, it is desirable that the distance m between the nozzle and the top surface of the spout shown in FIG. 2B is as close as possible without causing physical interference. As the distance, 0.5 to 5 mm is appropriate.
When cleaning with superheated steam, the cleaning effect flag increases as the time on the front member increases, but the cleaning effect decreases as the distance increases. Therefore, it is necessary to fix the spout and move the nozzle, or to fix the nozzle and move the spout.
[0016]
For example, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, when the nozzle is fixed and the spout is moved, the moving speed of the spout is preferably 100 mm / sec or less. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2 (d), since there is a shadow portion that does not receive steam injection on the back surface of the spout, as compared with the moving direction of the spout, the spray nozzles are sprayed from two directions. It seems to be necessary to wash.
Preferred injection conditions in the present invention are as follows. With respect to the spout, superheated steam having a temperature in the injection nozzle of 110 to 150 ° C. is 1 to 45 ° at a flow rate of 30 to 300 m / sec at an angle of 10 to 45 ° with respect to the top surface of the spout. Spray for 3 seconds.
By injecting superheated steam V under the above conditions, it was confirmed that the residue of the contents attached to the spout was removed and the attached bacteria could be killed.
The inner seal 3 is heat-sealed to the spout top surface 21 after the superheated steam injection, but air or heated air or the like is used so that moisture does not adhere to the seal surface due to the injection of the superheated steam V and cause a seal failure. It is desirable to dry the sealing surface.
[0017]
There is no restriction on the sealing method of the spout to which the spout cleaning method of the spout of the present invention can be applied. For example, a method that can heat seal the inner seal as described above is desirable, but as shown in FIG. When the cap is tightened, a contact ring provided on the top surface of the cap may be sealed by contacting the top surface of the spout.
[0018]
The shape of the pouch that can use the spout of the present invention is a three-sided seal, a four-sided seal, a self-standing bag (standing pouch), a gusset pouch, and the like. If it is a pouch which has an edge part, the spout of this invention can be mounted | worn.
[0019]
Next, the material of the pouch used in the present invention will be described. The material used for the pouch is suitable for the type of contents to be filled and the adhesion to the spout main body, and a material that can withstand heat and pressure sterilization and a laminate material obtained by a lamination method can be used. In the present invention, as long as it can be thermally bonded to the inner cylindrical portion of the spout, a material of a laminated material called a normal retort pouch can be used with no problem.
Usually, a laminated film is used as the material of the pouch, and the structure is such that the layers are laminated in the order of the surface layer / sealant layer or the surface layer / intermediate layer / sealant layer from the outer surface. In this configuration, the surface layer and the intermediate layer may each be a single film layer, but may be composed of two or more layers. In addition, an adhesive layer can be provided between the above layers as necessary. For example, 5 layers including an adhesive layer such as surface layer 11 / adhesive layer 14 / intermediate layer 12 / adhesive layer 14 / sealant layer 13 as shown in FIG. 6, and further, as shown in FIG. 7 layers including an adhesive layer such as surface layer 11 / adhesive layer 14 / intermediate layer 12 / adhesive layer 14 / intermediate layer 12 / adhesive layer 14 / sealant layer 13 may be used.
[0020]
The surface layer 11 is excellent in printability and laminate suitability, and has comprehensive mechanical strength required for normal applications such as tensile strength, impact strength, and scratch resistance, as well as solvent resistance and chemical resistance. In addition, heat resistance to heating during heat sealing is required.
Examples of films satisfying such performance and conditions include biaxially stretched polyester films, biaxially stretched nylon films, biaxially stretched polypropylene films, and the like, as well as polyvinylidene to impart moisture resistance and gas barrier properties thereto. A film coated with chloride (PVDC) or the like, or deposited with an inorganic oxide such as metal or silica can be used. And the range of 9-50 micrometers is suitable for the thickness of the film used as these surface layers.
When the thickness of the surface layer 11 is less than 9 μm, the strength is insufficient, and the suitability for printing and laminating is lowered, which is not preferable. Further, in the case of the present invention, the surface layer having a thickness exceeding 50 μm is not preferable because the packaging bag itself is small in size and sufficient in strength, so that it is not necessary and the material cost increases.
[0021]
The intermediate layer 12 is provided to improve the mechanical strength of the laminated film or to improve water vapor and various gas barrier properties. For example, nylon, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer can be used depending on the purpose. Suitable for heat sterilization with few pinholes etc. obtained by mixing other metals such as iron into aluminum as film, aluminum foil or alloy foil such as fluoride (EVOH), polyvinylidene chloride, etc. A metal foil may be used, or a resin film or the like having a surface coated with a film thickness (thickness 400 to 600) such as aluminum, silicon oxide, or alumina by vacuum deposition or the like is used. The thickness of the intermediate layer is usually about 7 μm to 50 μm. When the thickness is less than 7 μm, necessary performance such as strength and various barrier properties cannot be obtained, and processing suitability such as laminating is lowered, which is not preferable. Further, if the thickness is up to 50 μm, the above-mentioned improvement in strength and the lamination performance such as barrier properties are sufficiently satisfied, so a thickness exceeding 50 μm is not necessary, and it is preferable because the material cost increases. Absent.
[0022]
The method of laminating the intermediate layer 12 on the surface layer 11 can be performed by a known dry lamination method when the intermediate layer 12 is prepared in the form of a film in advance.
[0023]
Next, the sealant layer 13 is provided in the innermost layer of the laminated film, and is heat-bonded with sufficient strength by the heat and pressure of the sealer before the laminated film is made, and the spout main body portion. It is necessary to have a heat fusion property with the material of the bonding portion. The sealant layer 13 may be a multilayer film formed by a coextrusion method or the like.
[0024]
The sealant layer 13 is made of the same resin as that used for forming the spout, such as medium density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, polypropylene, or an α-olefin copolymer polymerized using a single site catalyst. Polyolefin. The thickness of the sealant layer of the pouch on which the spout of the present invention is mounted is suitably about 50 μm to 200 μm. As a result of various studies on the materials used as the sealant layer, the above-mentioned polyolefin-based resin has a melting temperature of the resin in order to withstand high temperature conditions such as pressure heat sterilization as sterilization of the contents. Select one that is 110 ° C or higher. In the case of a sealant layer made of a resin having a melting temperature of less than 110 ° C., in the process of filling the contents and sterilizing under pressure and heat, in bonding with the heat seal part of the pouch or the adhesive part of the spout main body part In some cases, the product may not be commercialized due to a peeling phenomenon during sterilization. In addition, the pressure heat sterilization is set in consideration of the components of the contents, the packaging unit, the set distribution conditions, etc., so the pouch sealant layer is selected and designed to withstand the heating conditions during the sterilization. To do.
[0025]
A thickness of the sealant layer 13 of less than 50 μm is not preferable because sufficient heat seal strength cannot be obtained. Further, even if the thickness exceeds 200 μm, the heat seal strength is not particularly increased, but rather, the time required for the heat seal becomes longer and the material cost increases, which is not preferable.
The sealant layer 13 can be laminated by extruding and coating the resin as described above on the surface layer 11 or the inner surface side of the film in which the surface layer 11 and the intermediate layer 12 are laminated. These can be laminated by a dry lamination method or the like.
When laminating the surface layer 11 and the intermediate layer 12, or when laminating the sealant layer 13, the surface layer, the intermediate layer 12 or the adhesive surface of the sealant layer 13 formed in advance to corona discharge treatment or organic Known anchor coats such as titanium, urethane, imine, and rubber can also be applied.
[0026]
The package equipped with the spout of the present invention described above is filled with the contents and boil sterilized or retort sterilized and sold in the market. In the case of a four-side sealed bag or a gusset bag, the packing body is filled with the contents, and at least one side of the pouch is left unsealed, and after the contents are filled from the unsealed portion, hermetically sealed. However, in the case of a standing pouch, the bottom is sealed in advance. Therefore, the unsealed portion is left in the top seal portion and the contents are filled from the unsealed portion. It is preferably packaged by a method of resealing.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the top surface of the spout of the pouch with a spout filled with the contents is washed with superheated steam, so that the contents such as the residue on the peripheral edge of the spout are not contaminated and the spout is removed. It can be kept clean and the spout can be stably sealed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing injection of superheated steam.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a state in which superheated steam is injected onto the top surface of the spout, (a) a front view at the time of steam injection, (b) an enlarged view of the Y part, and (c) moving the spout It is a top view in the case of injecting steam, (d) it is the front view.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are views for explaining the structure of a pouch with a spout, wherein FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing each member separately, and FIG. 3B is a view showing a state in which the contents are filled and sealed;
FIG. 4 is a front view including a partial cross-section illustrating another method of sealing.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the material of the inner seal material used in the method for cleaning a pouch mouth with a spout according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the material of the pouch used in the mouth cleaning method for a pouch with a spout according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
P Pouch with spout N Steam blow nozzle V Superheated steam θ Superheated steam injection angle m Distance from the top of the steam blow nozzle to the top of the spout s Shadow part 1 Pouch 2 Spout 3 Inner seal material 4 Front and back film side film heat Seal portion Outlet mounting portion 10 Pouch laminate 11 Surface layer 12 Intermediate layer 13 Sealant layer 15 Adhesive layer 21 Top surface 22 Inner tube portion 23 Outer tube portion 24 First flange portion Second flange portion Third flange portion 27 Prevention of screw blockage Rib contact ring 30 Inner seal laminate 31 Surface layer 32 Aluminum heat seal layer adhesive layer

Claims (2)

The superheated steam having a temperature in the injection nozzle of 110 to 150 ° C. is filled with the contents from the spout of the pressure heat sterilization pouch having a spout before being sealed, A spout characterized by sealing the spout after being sprayed and washed for 1-3 seconds at a flow rate of 30 to 300 m / sec at an angle of 10 to 45 ° with respect to the top surface of the spout. How to fill contents with pouch. The method for filling a pouch with a spout according to claim 1, wherein the spout is sealed by heat-sealing an inner seal to the spout.

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