JP5748360B2 - Oscillating sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an oscillating sterilization apparatus that performs heat sterilization while oscillating an object to be processed such as food and pharmaceuticals. More specifically, the present invention includes an oscillating body that oscillates in a processing tank. The present invention relates to an oscillating sterilizer that ejects a fluid such as.

  Processing objects such as retort foods, pharmaceuticals, and nutrients that are hermetically sealed in a plastic film or metal foil or a bag-like container (pouch) in which these layers are combined are heat sterilized and sterilized by a sterilizer. In retort foods, there is a demand for shortening the heat sterilization / sterilization time. In addition, there is a demand for drugs and nutrients that do not want to be burnt.

  In order to meet such a demand, an oscillating sterilizer has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This swing type sterilizer stores a pouch in which a processing target is hermetically sealed in a cylindrical processing tank with a bottom installed in a horizontal posture. While swinging the pouch, hot water, steam, etc. The target to be treated is heat sterilized and treated by spraying a high-temperature fluid.

  The bottomed cylindrical processing tank has one end as an open end and the other end as a closed end. A door body is attached to the open end. In addition, a rotation center axis of a triple tube structure in which an electric wiring passage, a liquid passage, and an air passage are independently formed passes through the closed end. In the processing tank, a bowl-shaped oscillating body is housed in a horizontally long hollow rectangular parallelepiped that swings around the central axis of the processing tank.

  Main header pipes extending in the length direction are attached to the outer sides of both sides of the rocking body. An upstream (closed end side of the processing tank) end of the main header pipe and the liquid passage of the rotation center shaft are connected by a joint pipe. In addition, longitudinal nozzle header pipes are connected to a plurality of appropriate locations in the middle of the main header pipe.

  Then, a cart in which a plurality of trays are stacked is carried into and out of the rocking body. A gap is provided between the stacked trays.

  In such an oscillating sterilizer, a pouch in which a processing target is hermetically sealed is placed on each tray, a carriage in which a plurality of trays are stacked is carried into the oscillating body, and the nozzle header pipe is inserted between the trays. By injecting a high-temperature fluid such as hot water or steam, the processing target in the pouch is heat sterilized, and then the cooling target is sprayed from the nozzle header pipe to cool the processing target.

  However, during the heat sterilization and the cooling process, the swinging body swings, so that the tray in the swinging body also swings, and the processing target in the pouch on the tray moves from one to the other and from the other. Repeat moving to one side. By repeating this, replacement of the surface layer portion and the center portion to be processed is promoted, and the heat sterilization / sterilization processing time is shortened.

Japanese Patent No. 3677121

  In the conventional oscillating sterilizer, the rotation center axis of the triple tube structure passes through the closed end of the treatment tank. Then, the main header pipe attached to the swinging body swings following the swinging of the swinging body. And the rotation center axis | shaft and main header piping are connected by joint piping. Therefore, the conventional oscillating sterilizer is restricted in layout by the joint piping, and for example, a door body cannot be freely laid out.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the rocking | fluctuation type sterilizer which enabled it to lay out freely.

An oscillating sterilization apparatus according to the present invention includes a treatment tank having a body, an oscillating body that is slidably accommodated in the treatment tank and that accommodates a sterilization or sterilization treatment target, and an oscillating body. An oscillating sterilizer comprising an attached main header pipe and a nozzle header pipe connected to the main header and spraying a high-temperature fluid for heat sterilization or heat sterilization toward the oscillating body, A joint pipe inserted inside and outside the treatment tank and capable of bending following the swinging of the main header pipe, the upstream end of the joint pipe being fixed to be connectable to an external pipe outside the treatment tank; The downstream end of is connected to the main header pipe.

  According to this rocking type sterilizer, the bendable joint pipe is inserted into and out of the treatment tank. That is, the upstream end of the joint pipe is fixed to be connected to an external pipe outside the processing tank, and the downstream end of the joint pipe is connected to the main header pipe. Since the main header pipe swings following the swing of the swing body, the downstream end of the joint pipe also swings.

  Since the joint pipe can be bent even if the upstream end is fixed, the downstream end bends following the swing of the main header pipe. Therefore, fluid such as hot water or steam can be supplied from the joint pipe into the swinging main header pipe. This fluid flows from the main header pipe into the nozzle header pipe and is jetted from the nozzle header pipe toward the inside of the rocking body.

  Note that the bending of the joint pipe means that the downstream end of the main header pipe is swung even if the upstream end of the joint pipe is a fixed end, such as being deformed to be bent or deformed to meander. It is to deform so as to follow.

  Here, as one aspect of the swing type sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, an opening is provided in the body of the processing tank, and a piping hood that covers the opening is disposed outside the body of the processing tank, It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the intermediate part of the joint pipe passes through the opening and the upstream end of the joint pipe is fixed in the pipe hood.

  According to this oscillating sterilizer, an opening is provided in the body of the processing tank, and the opening is covered with the piping hood, whereby the inside of the processing tank can be made a closed space. And the downstream end of joint piping is connected to the intermediate part of main header piping. And the midstream part of joint piping reciprocates at the opening part of a fuselage | body. And the upstream end of joint piping is fixed to the piping hood, and will be in the stable state.

Here, as another aspect of the oscillating type sterilizer according to the present invention, the joint pipe includes first, second, third and fourth pipes arranged in parallel, a first pipe and a second pipe. A first connection pipe connecting the pipes, a second connection pipe connecting the second pipe and the third pipe, and a third connection pipe connecting the third pipe and the fourth pipe. The first pipe is the upstream end fixed in the piping hood, and the fourth pipe is connected to the main header pipe and follows the swinging of the main header pipe. The first connection pipe is a driven link having the first pipe and the second pipe as fulcrums, and the second connection pipe is the second pipe and the third pipe. And the third connecting pipe is connected to the third pipe and the fourth pipe. Preparative may adopt a configuration that is a drive link which is the fulcrum of.

  According to this oscillating sterilizer, fluids such as hot water and steam are transferred to the first pipe, the first connection pipe, the second pipe, the second connection pipe, the third pipe, and the third connection. It passes through the pipe and the fourth pipe and flows into the main header pipe. The joint pipe forms a link with these pipes and connection pipes, the first pipe is a fixed end fixed in the piping hood, and the fourth pipe is supported to follow the main header pipe that swings. The joint pipe is bent as a whole.

  Here, as another aspect of the swing type sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, the treatment tank includes a cylindrical body having both ends as open ends, and a door body that opens and closes each end of the body. A configuration can be adopted.

  In this oscillating sterilizer, since the joint pipe passes through the opening provided in the body of the processing tank, both ends of the body can be open ends, and door bodies can be provided at both ends of the processing tank.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an oscillating sterilizer that can be laid out freely.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view showing an embodiment of a rocking sterilizer according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the oscillating sterilizer according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the oscillating sterilizer according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the oscillating sterilizer according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the oscillating sterilizer according to the present invention, and is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

  An embodiment of a rocking sterilizer according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This oscillating sterilizer is a device that performs heat sterilization and sterilization while oscillating a processing target (not shown) such as food or medicine sealed in a pouch.

  The swing type sterilizer includes a processing tank 10 installed in a horizontal posture, a bowl-shaped swinging body 20 housed in the processing tank 10 and swinging, hot water, steam, etc. in the swinging body 20. Nozzle header pipe 30 for injecting a low-temperature fluid such as a high-temperature fluid or cooling water, a main header pipe 40 for supplying fluid to the nozzle header pipe 30, and the main header pipe 40 and external pipe 60 (see FIG. 5) ) And a joint pipe 50 for connecting them.

  The oscillating body 20 has a plurality of horizontal posture bars (not shown) arranged in a vertical direction at intervals, and a frame body 21 assembled in the shape of a horizontally-long hollow rectangular parallelepiped and each bar of the frame body 21. A plurality of (five in FIG. 1) annular ring bodies 22 held at appropriate intervals, and an arcuate gear 23 attached near the top of one central ring body 22 are provided. Moreover, the outer periphery of the ring body 22 is circular, and the inner periphery of the ring body 22 is rectangular.

  The inside of the frame body 21 of the rocking body 20 is a passage for a carriage (not shown). The cart is a stack of a plurality of trays (not shown) provided with a gap, and a pouch in which a processing target is hermetically filled is placed on each tray.

  A horizontal main header pipe 40 is attached to each side surface of the frame body 21 of the oscillating body 20 so as to follow one by one. The main header pipe 40 is the center in the height direction of the frame body 21, is attached in parallel with the bar so as to extend the entire length of the frame body 21, and penetrates each ring body 22. 2 to 4, the main header pipe 40 drawn on the right side is the first main header pipe 41 and the main header pipe 40 drawn on the left side is the second main header. The piping 42 will be described as necessary.

  A plurality of vertically oriented nozzle header pipes 30 are attached to each side surface of the frame body 21 of the rocking body 20. As illustrated, the nozzle header pipe 30 may be disposed so as to be sandwiched between the ring body 22 and the frame body 21 in addition to being disposed in the vicinity of the ring body 22. In any case, the nozzle header pipe 30 and the main header pipe 40 are connected by an L-shaped connection pipe 31.

  And the processing tank 10 is provided with the cylindrical body 11 which made the both ends the open end, and the door body 12 which opens and closes each edge part of this body 11. FIG. The door body 12 is opened and closed to open and close both ends, or both ends are opened and closed with a hinge.

  A pair of (four in total) supporting holes 11a are provided at positions near the ends of the body 11 and near the ends. The rocking body 20 in the processing tank 10 is supported by the rollers 24 using the support holes 11a. That is, a roller 24 is provided below the bottom of the processing tank 10, and a part of the roller 24 penetrates the support hole 11 a and supports the ring body 22 of the swinging body 20 in the processing tank 10. Since the rollers 24 support the ring body 22 of the oscillating body 20 in pairs of two, a total of four sets of four, the two ring bodies 22 are supported by the rollers 24. The support hole 11 a is closed by a support hood 13 that covers the roller 24.

  Furthermore, a driving hole 11 b is provided in the central portion near the top of the body 11. A driving device 25 is attached to the driving hole 11b. The drive device 25 includes an annular pinion 25a that reciprocates in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction at a predetermined angle (for example, a range of about 30 °), and a part of the pinion 25a is processed from the drive hole 11b. It protrudes into the tank 10 and meshes with a gear 23 provided on the frame body 21 of the rocking body 20. Therefore, when the pinion 25a of the driving device 25 reciprocates, the rocking body 20 rocks in the circumferential direction. Further, the drive hole 11 b is closed by a drive hood 14 that covers the gear 23.

  An opening 11 c is provided at the approximate center in the length direction of the body 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a pair of openings 11 c are provided on the front side and the back side. The opening 11 c is covered with a piping hood 15 fixed to the body 11 of the processing tank 10. In addition, the joint pipe 50 is connected to the main header pipe 40 using the opening 11c.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the joint pipe 50 includes first, second, third, and fourth pipes 51, 52, 53, and 54, and first, second, and third connecting pipes arranged in parallel. 55, 56, 57. The first, second, and fourth pipes 51, 52, and 54 are formed in a cylindrical shape, and the third pipe 53 is formed like a tee-shaped joint, and communication ports 51a, 52a, 53a and 54a are provided. Further, both end portions 52b, 53b and 54b of the second, third and fourth pipes 52, 53 and 54 are open.

  The first pipe 51 is a fixed end disposed in the piping hood 15. That is, one end 51 b of the first pipe 51 is a closed end, and this one end is fixed to the piping hood 15 by the bracket 58. The other end 51 c of the first pipe 51 is an open end exposed from the piping hood 15. Therefore, the piping hood 15 is also provided with a connecting hole 15 a, and the external piping 60 is connected to the opening 15 a of the piping hood 15.

  Then, the first pipe 51 and the second pipe 52 are adjacent to each other in parallel at a predetermined interval, and are connected by the first connection pipe 55. The first connecting pipe 55 includes a connecting portion 55a connected so as to cover the communication port 51a of the first pipe 51, a connecting portion 55b connected so as to cover the communication port 52a of the second pipe 52, and both connections. And a rectangular tube-shaped passage portion 55c connecting the portions 55a and 55b. The first connection pipe 55 forms a flow path through which fluid flows from the first pipe 51 to the second pipe 52.

  Then, the second pipe 52 and the third pipe 53 are adjacent to each other in parallel at a predetermined interval, and are connected by the second connection pipe 56. The second connection pipe 56 is a set of two, each connected to the end of the second pipe 52 and the end of the third pipe 53, and the end of the second pipe 52 and the third The end of the pipe 53 is sandwiched. And each end part 56a, 56b where the 2nd connection pipe 56 joins the 2nd pipe 52 and the 3rd pipe 53 is opened, and fluid flows from the 2nd pipe 52 by the 2nd connection pipe 56. A flow path that flows to the third pipe 53 is formed.

  Then, the third pipe 53 and the fourth pipe 54 are adjacent to each other in parallel at a predetermined interval, and are connected by a third connection pipe 57. The third connecting pipe 57 includes a connecting portion 57a connected to the communication port 53a of the third pipe 53, a connecting portion 57b connected so as to cover the communication port 54a of the fourth pipe 54, and both connecting portions 57a, And a rectangular tube-shaped passage portion 57c connecting 57b. The third connection pipe 57 forms a flow path through which fluid flows from the third pipe 53 to the fourth pipe 54.

  The fourth pipe 54 is interposed in the middle of the main header pipe 40. That is, the main header pipe 40 is divided at a portion adjacent to the opening 11 c provided in the body 11 of the processing tank 10, and the fourth pipe 54 is interposed in the divided portion. As described above, the main header pipe 40 also swings following the swing of the swinging body 20. Therefore, the fourth pipe 54 is a support end that is displaced following the swing of the main header pipe 40.

  In such a joint pipe 50, the first pipe 51 is a fixed end, the first connection pipe 55 is a driven link, the second connection pipe 56 is an intermediate link, and the third connection pipe 57 is a drive link. A link is configured.

  Here, the usage method of the rocking | fluctuation type sterilizer comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. First, one door body 12 of the treatment tank 10 is opened, and the other door body 12 is closed. Then, the pouch in which the object to be processed is hermetically filled is placed on the tray of the carriage, and the plurality of carriages are carried into the frame body 21 of the oscillating body 20. And one door body 12 is closed and the processing object is heat-sterilized and sterilized.

  That is, fluid such as hot water or steam flows into the joint pipe 50 from the external pipe 60. This fluid flows in the first pipe 51, the first connection pipe 55, the second pipe 52, the second connection pipe 56, the third pipe 53, and the third connection pipe of the joint pipe 50. 57 flows through the fourth pipe 54 and flows into the main header pipe 40. Then, the fluid flows from the main header pipe 40 into the nozzle header pipe 30 and is injected between the trays of the carriage.

  The carriage swings when the swinging body 20 swings. The oscillating body 20 oscillates with the center line of the processing bath 10 as the oscillating axis, as the pinion 25a of the driving device 25 reciprocates in two directions and the gear 23 engaged with the pinion 25a reciprocates. And the main header piping 40 also rock | fluctuates because the rocking | fluctuation body 20 rock | fluctuates.

  As the main header pipe 40 swings, the joint pipe 50 bends. For example, when the oscillating body 20 is tilted counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 3 from the horizontal posture as shown in FIG. 2, the first main header pipe 41 is displaced upward and the second main header pipe 42 is displaced downward. To do. Then, the first, second, and third connection pipes 55, 56, and 57 of the joint pipe 50 connected to the first main header pipe 41 are pulled upward. Further, the first, second, and third connection pipes 55, 56, and 57 of the joint pipe 50 connected to the second main header pipe 42 are pulled downward.

  Conversely, when the rocking body 20 is tilted clockwise as shown in FIG. 4, the first main header pipe 41 is displaced downward and the second main header pipe 42 is displaced upward. Then, the first, second, and third connection pipes 55, 56, and 57 of the joint pipe 50 connected to the first main header pipe 40 are pulled downward and connected to the second main header pipe 40. The first, second, and third connection pipes 55, 56, and 57 of the joint pipe 50 are pulled upward.

  Even if the first, second, and third connection pipes 55, 56, and 57 are pulled in any direction, the external pipe 60 and the main header pipe 40 are connected via the joint pipe 50. The fluid flowing in the pipe 60 flows into the main header pipe 40 from the joint pipe 50. That is, even if the swinging body 20 swings, the fluid continues to be ejected from the nozzle header pipe 30 at a constant pressure.

  At this time, the opening 11c is blocked by the piping hood 15, the supporting hole 11a is blocked by the supporting hood 13, and the driving hole 11b is blocked by the driving hood 14. The inside of the processing tank 10 is a sealed space. Therefore, the fluid ejected from the nozzle header heats the pouch on the tray in a high temperature state, and the processing target sealed and filled in the pouch is subjected to heat sterilization and sterilization.

  When the heat sterilization / sterilization process is completed, the supply of the high-temperature fluid to the external pipe 60 is stopped, the cooling water is supplied, and the heating target is cooled by jetting the cooling water from the nozzle header pipe 30. Thus, when a series of work is completed, the supply of the cooling water to the external pipe 60 is stopped, and the driving device 25 is stopped. Then, the other door body 12 is opened, and the cart is discharged from the rocking body 20.

  The present invention can be variously modified without being limited to the above embodiment. For example, the joint pipe 50 is not a link formed by the pipes 51, 52, 53, 54 and the connection pipes 55, 56, 57, but may be formed by a flexible tube.

  Moreover, the processing tank 10 does not include the door body 12 at both ends of the cylindrical body 11, but may include only one end portion as an open end, the other end portion as a closed end, and the door body 12 at the open end. Good. In this case, you may provide the opening part 11c in a closed end.

10 ... Processing tank 11 ... Body 11a ... Support hole 11b ... Drive hole 11c ... Opening 12 ... Door body 13 ... Support hood 14 ... Drive hood 15 ... ...... Pipe hood 15a ...... Opening portion 20 ... Oscillator 21 ......... Frame body 22 ......... Ring body 23 ......... Gear 24 ......... Roller 30 ......... Nozzle header pipe 31 ......... Connection Piping 40... Main header piping 50... Joint piping 51... First pipe 52... Second pipe 53... Third pipe 54. First connecting pipe 56 ... Second connecting pipe 57 ... Third connecting pipe 60 ... External piping

Claims (4)

A processing tank having a body, a swinging body accommodated in the processing tank so as to be swingable and accommodating a sterilization or sterilization target , a main header pipe attached to the swinging body, and a main header; An oscillating sterilization apparatus comprising a nozzle header pipe connected and spraying a high-temperature fluid for heat sterilization or heat sterilization toward the oscillating body,
A joint pipe inserted inside and outside the treatment tank and capable of bending following the swinging of the main header pipe, the upstream end of the joint pipe being fixed to be connectable to an external pipe outside the treatment tank; The downstream end of the oscillating type is connected to the main header pipe.   An opening is provided in the body of the processing tank, a piping hood covering the opening is provided outside the body of the processing tank, an intermediate part of the joint pipe passes through the opening, and an upstream end of the joint pipe The swinging sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein is fixed in the piping hood. The joint pipe includes first, second, third, and fourth pipes arranged in parallel, a first connection pipe that connects the first pipe and the second pipe, and a second pipe. A second connecting pipe that connects the third pipe; and a third connecting pipe that connects the third pipe and the fourth pipe; and the first pipe is fixed in the piping hood. The upstream end, the fourth pipe is connected to the main header pipe and is a support end that is displaced following the swing of the main header pipe, and the first connection pipe is A driven link having a first pipe and a second pipe as a fulcrum, and the second connection pipe is an intermediate link having a second pipe and a third pipe as a fulcrum, and the third connection The pipe is a drive link having a third pipe and a fourth pipe as fulcrums. Oscillating disinfection device according to claim 2 that.   The said processing tank is provided with the cylindrical trunk | drum which made the both ends an open end, and the door body which opens and closes each edge part of this trunk | drum, The Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The oscillating sterilizer as described.

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